I hung out with some kids at West Side Elementary School, Talented and Gifted (TAG) Academy, about their long term projects and the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program. Students at each grade level work on a year-long project that is based on an identified problem that the school/community is facing. Through the West Side TAG program, students are encouraged to use their talents and gifts (TAG) to solve those problems.
The 5th graders and 2nd graders interviewed spoke about their experience with their projects last year in 4th and 1st grade. 4th graders collect and dump food scraps during K-5 lunch and maintain the compost bins, while the first graders use the compost in their pollinator gardens.
Composting at West Side keeps more than 3,000 pounds food waste out of our landfill and helps improve the pollinator numbers in our area. We discussed the usefulness of compost, the creation of compost, and the way it is monitored---temperature, wetness and you guessed it, smell. The smell they used to describe the bottom of the compost bin was pretty interesting.
Mike Rowe would be impressed! One thing was clear, the students love their teachers and their projects even though they were full of creepy, crawly, dirty, smelly, rotten stuff.
I also spoke with their teachers, Mrs. Throop, Ms. Greene and Mrs. Westlake, about their approach to learning. Gone are the days that teachers controlled the classroom. Teachers today expect collaboration, embrace “mistakes, and push the boundaries of the traditional classroom where they are no longer the sage on the stage. West Side classrooms are noisy, messy places where learning is based on solving real problems in our community.
Seriously, it was a pleasure meeting the 5th and 2nd graders, and their teachers do a wonderful job.
On May 30th, 2016 two sisters, Judy Willingham, 72, and Andra Pearce, 69 died in a house fire at 493 Church Street. Approved for demolition in December 2016, the house sat vacant until Sara and Jon Micheletto asked if they could fix it up.
Their journey to restore the house includes kicking the critters out, historical documents, 7 dumpsters of material and an indoor pool designed by an architect that built churches.
I walked (marched?) in the East Cobber parade along with Linda Jivadi, Debra Howard and some other folks from NAMI Cobb!
The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Cobb is all about helping families in crisis and connecting resources for your loved one. Linda and Debra talk about their situations and practical things you can do to support your loved one.
Breaking the stigma associated with mental illness is the most important thing you can do. So let’s talk about it and see what happens!
You’ll also hear how we braved a very loud skate car behind us, a large crowd of parade people. Guarantee you’ll enjoy this!
Oh yeah, why don’t you give a to help meet their $11,000 goal!
NAMI Cobb Website (resources)
NAMI Cobb Walk Page (donate today!)
https://namicobb.org/breaking-news/register-nami-walks-2017/
Cecilie and Brian Benefield took 10 folks and me on a 3 hour tour of Marietta. Of course it included great food I had not tried, but i also learned more abut the history of Marietta and the Square.
Brian and Cecilie created a top notch experience that is rated the number one activity on trip advisor for Marietta Georgia. The whole tour was interactive and everyone had a great time, especially the ones I had on the show!
Check it out!!!
https://www.mariettafoodtours.com
How did Johnny Pizza learn how to cook real Hoboken Italian food? From his family and his neighbors in Hoboken, of course. Not from written down recipes, but from asking questions and watching as the extended family prepared the meals on Sunday.
Johnny paid attention and learned the recipes and techniques that he applies everyday to his fresh mozzarella, sauce and famous meatballs.
Paul Southern, a friend of the show (and former special agent for the department of homeland security), interviews Bill Nowicki about his life and what drives him. From a Friendly’s ice cream scooper to a nuclear submarine to nuclear plants.
But a lot changed back in 2013, when Bill hired Gary O’Malley as a coach. In that moment, many things changed in Bill’s life.
Submarine Sea Stories Podcast
http://www.nowickimedia.com/category/podcast/
Nowicki Media
Marietta Community School Basic and Advanced Podcasting Classes