New mural at school sparks kindness
A brick wall at Walter Douglas Elementary School received a kindness makeover.
Walter Douglas, 3302 N. Flowing Wells Road, in the Flowing Wells school district, collaborated with the Ben's Bells Project and the Tucson Unified School District's Community Transition Programs to create a mural out of tile.
Students worked with staff last week to install the kindness-themed mural, which is an elaborate tree.
The tree's pieces, made from tile and glass, were all decorated and painted by the students.
Third-grader Ashlynne Monfort wants the tree to inspire her classmates.
"We're making a kindness mural so when people see it on the wall they'll think about what kindness is when they are on the playground and in class," she said.
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"They have to spread kindness by being nice to people and by being happy."
Ashlynne's friend, Briana Garcia, knows the new mural will be noticed.
"The mural means we can be better at spreading kindness," she said. "If someone walks by it, it can remind them that they can be kind to other people."
8th-graders tour East Coast on trip
Eighth-graders from Pusch Ridge Christian Academy returned recently from the school's ninth annual East Coast tour, which took them from Virginia to New York City.
Social studies teacher David Towne started Pusch Ridge's history trip in 2002.
Fifty students went on this year's trip, which was in late January and early February.
Students each pay about $2,000 to go on the trip.
Their trip started in Virginia, where they visited Williamsburg, Jamestown, Monticello and Mount Vernon.
Then they headed to Washington, D.C., to explore monuments and museums.
The students recited the Gettysburg Address from memory inside the Lincoln Memorial.
"It's a real high point for me," Towne said in a news release. "The kids have memorized it and recited it in front of their peers in the classroom, but when they stand in that hallowed space and speak those words before such greatness, their faces reflect a light that goes beyond understanding."
Trips to Gettysburg and Philadelphia also were part of the itinerary.
One student was deeply moved on the Gettysburg battlefield.
"I stood in the same spot where the Union and Confederate soldiers did and I imagined being told by my general that I had to charge across the field knowing that I would probably die," eighth-grader Patrick Miller said.
The students and their chaperones wrapped up their trip in New York, where they visited the city's famous sights and also took in "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" on Broadway.
Support MUSD at Bookmans on Ina
Marana Unified School District libraries have teamed up with the northwest-side Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, 3733 W. Ina Road.
When customers at Bookmans on Ina trade in their books for store credit, they have an opportunity to donate the trade credit to MUSD libraries.
Participation is easy: Recycle some of your good used books at the Bookmans on West Ina and North Thornydale roads. See how much credit you receive for the trade. Look for the donation box on the counter at the cash register, and after you make your own purchases, donate your leftover trade credit to MUSD libraries.
Elementary school turns 10 years old
Twin Peaks Elementary, 7995 W. Twin Peaks Road, invites the community to help the school celebrate its 10th anniversary.
A party will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 16 on the school's playing field. The event will feature a DJ playing music and games; band, chorus and orchestra performances; a slide show and free Eegee's drinks and cake. Papa Murphy's Pizza and Bubby's Chicago Style hot dogs will be available for sale.
Shakespeare contest is Saturday
Thirty-two high school students throughout Southern Arizona will take part in a Shakespeare competition at the University of Arizona's Tornabene Theatre on Saturday.
The free event begins at 10 a.m., and the theater is in the UA Fine Arts Complex at the southeast corner of North Park Avenue and East Speedway.
The winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City in May for the national competition.
The national winner will travel to England in the summer and receive a scholarship to the London School of Dramatic Art.
For more information, call Jerry Helm at 975-2437.
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