Editor's note Older students offer new understanding of chemistry

MEGAN ROBINSON Capital-Journal

Insights into the pride of accomplishment is illustrated here by the many journalism students in "Making the Grade," a spotlight on 12 area schools over 11 days.

Along with area high schools we have included Kaw Area Technical School, which offers vocational and technical training to high school students as well as older students.

The Making the Grade partnership combines efforts of The Topeka Capital-Journal and each school, including students and faculty members. The focus of this edition is "Look at Us in 2000."

It could not have been done without generous support of various sponsors involved in "Celebrate the Year of the Child" project.

Partners in "Making the Grade" are Stormont-Vail HealthCare, Koch Industries and Commerce Bank.

These sponsors support the individual sections, as well as making a commitment to the Newspapers In Education program, purchasing more than 30,000 daily newspapers for classroom use.

We thank the students and their teachers for a job well done, and we thank the sponsors. We hope you enjoy each of the sections.

--- Linda Laird, special sections coordinator

Lower school pupils create ornments, roast marshmallows in lab.

Special to The Capital-Journal

Upper school chemistry students entered Janna DeLillo's first- grade classroom armed with goggles and disposable aprons. The elementary class rumbled with anticipation while juniors assisted their younger peers with tying the aprons and balancing oversized goggles on their little noses.

Each chemistry student introduced himself to his first-grade partner and escorted them to the science lab. Normally visited by only seventh- through 12th-grade students, the upstairs halls welcomed the little ones, who chattered excitedly to their upper school friends.

Such a scene became normal routine for chemistry students at Cair Paravel-Latin School this year.

"We made ornaments with the first grade," said junior chemistry student Paige Hatfield. "And little Sternos to roast marshmallows for S'mores with the third/fourth grade combo class. Then we made slime with the second grade and tie-dyed with the fifth grade."

DeLillo's first-grade class went to the science lab to make copper ornaments in December. Chemistry students assisted the younger pupils by putting galvanized metal through a single replacement reaction in which zinc coating was replaced with a copper coating. The students taped off sections of their galvanized metal so the copper coating uncovered a star ornament that they could take home and put on their Christmas trees.

"I like the ornaments the best because the kids were the most energetic and funny," said Doug Congdon, junior chemistry student. "I told my partner that the acid we were using was magic water and not to touch it.

"He didn't believe me and went off about how he watched magic shows all the time and that they were fake."

Margie Brown's third/fourth combination class made S'mores with the chemistry class in January. Each chemistry student along with their third/fourth grade partner made a "Sterno" in a tuna can in order to produce a contained fire in which to roast marshmallows. Each pair was given a bag of ingredients to see how many S'mores they could make.

Chemistry students went away from the activity having a broader knowledge of chemical quantities (specifically, stoichiometric calculations involving limiting reagents) while third/fourth graders went away gooey and excited about science.

Later in March, the class invited Deb Jorgensen's second grade to make "slime" with them.

"In our study of organic chemistry, we thought it would be fun to make a polymer that has a slimy texture," said Bev Gee, science teacher. "It was amusing to watch to see who wanted to play with the slime and take it home with them the most, the second graders or my junior chemistry students."

"I like it because it was gooey," said Chelsie Moore, second grader.

Next on the agenda was to tie-dye with Jayne Clark's fifth grade class.

The students brought in t-shirts. After the shirts were soaked in activator solution, the chemistry students supervised the fifth graders as they tied their shirts and put the reactive dyes on them in spiral patterns.

Allison Clark, a junior in Gee's chemistry class, said, "Tie-dye was the most fun. It's one of those things you've always wanted to do, but have never had the chance."

To the unaided eye it may seem as if these days were just a lot of fun.

But watching closely would reveal a whole lot of learning going on.

ChemExchange days were developed by Gee in attempt to open up the world of science in a hands-on way to the younger students at CPLS.

"We're trying to get younger students excited about science," said Hatfield. "It's a chance for us to let them know what our science department is all about."

Not only does it give them positive experiences with science, but ChemExchange also builds relationships between the different age groups within the school.

"One of the unique features of our school is that our building houses both lower and upper grades," said Gee. "ChemExchange was developed in order to bring the elementary students in contact not only with science, but also with their older peers."

A. Clark said, "I think it unifies us in a way. They (especially the primary students) are intimidated by us until we do things like this.

They gain a little respect for us when they see us do a lab that works."

Congdon added, "I know them when I see them in the halls and they get all excited when they see us."

"I give Lindsey a hug when I see her in the hall," said Moore.

"They look up to us," said Hatfield. "And now, they wave to us in the hall when we see them."

ChemExchange produced not only a wave of excitement about science, but also a new wave of friendship between the elementary and upper school students at CPLS this year. Lower school students wait anxiously to see if they will be the next class to be invaded by chemistry students holding goggles and aprons.

Chemistry

1,000 years. As a nation, we stand at the threshold of this doorway, faced with two options, both that will inevitably change the course of history.

The first option is a path of seeming beauty that will, in actuality, secure our destruction. The second option is a path, not as initially appealing as the first, but one that has the potential to offer the gift of hope to future generations.

Before we choose our future, we must evaluate our past. It is difficult to see our beginnings. The incredible people and ingenious documents that made this great nation possible sit on the shelves in a dark corner, unvisited and unread. They are only occasionally used out of convenience to justify, in a warped and distorted way, decisions that have put us in our current state.

Our current situation appears glamorous. Unemployment is low, technology grows at a staggering rate, and money, for most people, abounds. At closer examination, however, we'll find a much different picture. We live in a country where a liberal and biased media thinks for millions of people.

We live in a country where the government was once run by the people, but now the people daily lose their control to the government.

We promote self-improvement, self-confidence, self-worth, self- love, and selfishness.

We hand children unbridled power and fail to teach them discipline and respect.

We distort and soil the words "liberty" and "equality" in order to permit immoral behavior.

As we turn in the doorway, toward the future, let us again face our two options. We can continue down the path of selfishness and distortion that will lead to destruction, or we can choose a path of untangling our mistakes and trying to return to our country's logical and practical founding principles rooted in the virtue of Judeo- Christian ethics.

May we choose wisely before proceeding, for the course of history lies solely in our hands.

Special to The Capital-Journal

Most students at Cair Paravel have encountered Andy Vogel at some point --- he is an active participant in the student body.

He is probably most known for his athletic ability, especially in soccer and basketball. Andy also juggles different school activities, including Student Council.

A newcomer to the arena this year, he made an outstanding entrance when voted into the office of vice president, and he tries to encourage participation in student-led activities. "Without participation, it is no fun at all," he says.

Taking on a personal challenge, he landed a spot in the 1999 musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," despite never having been in a musical program before.

Outside of school, Andy leads a boys' Bible study for his church youth group. He sees this leadership role as an opportunity to mentor others. The group meets in a home, providing a relaxed environment where "we can learn together about things that apply to real life," he says.

Although Andy is on a fast-paced schedule, he is cool and collected, unaffected by the hustle and bustle of his daily routine.

When he isn't in a rush to get to his next activity, he either shoots baskets by himself or is out "rollin' with the homies," or watching football on TV. However, watching football is definitely not a form of relaxation, for his role as an athlete interferes with his ability to emotionally separate himself from the team he is observing.

Andy enjoys spending time with others and tries to make them feel important. He understands that spending time with people is essential in making relationships both happen and work.

Special to The Capital-Journal

Cair Paravel-Latin School added three Fine Arts Forums to its calendar of activities this past year. Each forum included a recital of music and recitation along with a showing of student visual art projects.

Aaron Lauber, CPLS director of music and chairman of the Fine Arts Committee, said the committee saw a need for more outlets for students to perform for their peers and the school community.

"We only have one fine art competition each year, and the number of entries allowed is quite limited," Lauber said. "I felt that many students who were truly outstanding visual artists and musicians were rarely given the opportunity to perform or show their work."

CPLS has participated for a number of years in the Mid America Association of Christian Schools Fine Arts and Bible Competition in Blue Springs, Mo. Each school is allowed only two entries in each category at this competition.

The Fine Arts Committee decided to create more performance opportunities for the students by creating the forums.

To increase enthusiasm in the event, several faculty members were featured on the first forum in October. Math teacher Jason Sells and English teacher Damon DeLillo each read favorite poems, Lauber sang an art song, and Mike Henry, who teaches art to the 7-12 graders, displayed original watercolors.

"The classical-education philosophy of our school implies that studies in the arts be fundamental to each student's experience here. It only seemed natural to have a regular event celebrating their artistic achievements," said Lauber.

Cair Paravel students have required music instruction from kindergarten through the eighth grade and are required to take a semester course in the history and appreciation of music.

They can also opt to enroll in the upper school choir and audition for the Madrigals. Visual arts instruction begins in the first grade and culminates in a required art history course in high school. Upper school visual art electives include Color Theory, Watercolor and Figure Drawing. In addition to art and music, elementary students are required to memorize poetry throughout their school careers.

The most recent Fine Arts Forum was held just before this year's MAACS Fine Arts competition and featured students who would be competing. Two rooms of music and speech performances ran simultaneously for over two hours that evening.

"I wish I could have seen all the performances. It's so fun to watch these kids get up and stretch themselves," said Wendy Keller, school aide and mother of four CPLS students.

Keller's son Josh, along with partner Jesse Seltmann (both freshmen), went on to win first place in the MAACS duet acting category.

CAIR PARAVEL-LATIN SCHOOL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Dave Grove

Secretary: Anne Sawyer

Treasurer: John Luttjohann

Ken VanderHart

Dave Aadalen

Rodney Robinson

Cindy Patton

Mark Nelson

ADMINISTRATION

Headmaster: Steve Marshall

Administrative assistant and counselor: Melody Congdon

Secretaries: Connie Davidson and Kathy Letch

Business manager: Ann Norris

DATES

May 13 --- Golf tournament

May 18 --- K-fourth grade concert

May 19 --- Sports awards banquet

May 21 --- Choir/Madrigal Concert at Grace Cathedral

May 25 --- Last day of school

May 27 --- Graduation, 3 p.m., White Concert Hall

Telephone number --- 232-3878

Fax number --- 232-0047

Hours --- 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. office hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fees --- Contact the school office for current tuition information

Building --- 635 S.W. Clay, Topeka, 66606

History

The elementary school was founded as Cair Paravel, taking its name from C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia books.

A second school, Topeka Latin School, was founded at about the same time to serve the needs of older students.

In 1987 the two schools merged to form Cair Paravel-Latin School, now serving more than 300 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

First graduating class: 1989

This year's graduating class: 23

Number of students in high school: 96 students in grades nine through 12. Total enrollment of the school is 380.

Teachers --- 13 in high school

Services --- Classical, college-preparatory education

Organizations/sports

Bible Quizzers --- Mardine Hunter

Newspaper/Yearbook --- Damon DeLillo

Student Council --- Janet Chalfant

Madrigals --- Aaron Lauber

Choir --- Aaron Lauber

Musicals --- Aaron Lauber

Dramas --- Deb Hanson

Athletic director --- Chris Walton

Cheerleading --- Jeanne Garringer

Soccer --- Rodge Moore

Volleyball --- Phil Parker

Girls basketball --- Becky Bates

Boys basketball --- Reggie Hulbert

Girls soccer --- Steve Marshall

Boys golf --- Chris Walton

School song

CPLS, CPLS

Your chimes we still can hear

They ring the truth and principles

That taught our hearts to fear

The Lord our God; Alleluia

Your message we'll truly profess

Our destiny God clearly set at our CPLS

Our destiny God clearly set at our CPLS

School motto

Dominus illuminatio mea

(God is my light)

Mascot --- Lion

School colors --- Navy and grey

League --- Metro Christian Athletic Association

Communications

Newspaper: Chronicle

Yearbook: Lion's Pride

Copyright 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.