Font ResizeSTUDENTS FROM Notre Dame de Namur University, in Belmont, helped set up a safe Halloween environment for 400 underprivileged children in San Francisco's tough Tenderloin neighborhood.
About 40 university students traveled to the Tenderloin and organized pumpkin carvings, face painting, a costume contest and other activities for the youngsters.
The annual event is part of professor Don Stannard-Friel's "Streetwise Sociology" class, one of several courses that introduce students to the issues faced by Tenderloin residents.
The students this year included members of the lacrosse and soccer teams.
"Part of NDNU's mission is social justice," Stannard-Friel said. "Volunteering in the Tenderloin provides students with an opportunity to become active citizens within the community. Not only did the children enjoy the festival, but it also created an environment for the students who volunteered to connect with the children and learn directly from their community, which made the Tenderloin our classroom."
St. Raymond School wins trivia contest
Students from St. Raymond School in Menlo Park won first prize in a recent trivia and scavenger contest. They earned 274 points out of a possible 300 in the 25th annual competition sponsored by the Serra High School Trivia Club in San Mateo.
"The kids were ecstatic," said St. Raymond teacher Patrick Sullivan.
Crocker School in Hillsborough took second place while Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame came in third.
This year's trivia categories included geography, baseball and American presidents. During the scavenger hunt, students collected objects such as an "I Voted" sticker, a bag of nuts from an airline and a pen from a bank no longer in business.
"The contest generated a lot of spirit from the competing schools," said Trivia Club moderator Randy Vogel. "I was again impressed with the research skills displayed by the students."
Students to perform 'Diary of Anne Frank'
Students from Carlmont High School in Belmont will perform the play "The Diary of Anne Frank" this week.
The performances will start at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Performing Arts Center on campus, 1400 Alameda de las Pulgas.
The play is a stage adaptation of the diary written by Jewish teenager Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the World War II Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.
For more information, visit www.carlmontperformingarts.com or http://diaryofannefrank-carlmont.blogspot.com.
College hosts movie screening
Menlo College in Atherton will host a special screening of a documentary about the Italian-American experience.
The movie, "Pane Amaro" ("Bitter Bread") will be shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 in Brawner Hall, 1000 El Camino Real. Admission is $10.
The movie by Gianfranco Norelli tells of the Italian-American immigrant experience from 1880 through World War II using historical photos, film footage and interviews.
For tickets or more information, call 650-868-5995 or visit www.italybythebay.org.
Chalk Talk is a regular feature with items about schools, students, teachers and administrators in San Mateo County. To submit an item, write to Chalk Talk, San Mateo County Times, 477 Ninth Ave., Suite 110, San Mateo, CA 94402; send a fax to 650-348-4446; or e-mail education reporter Neil Gonzales at ngonzales@bayareanewsgroup.com. Also visit the Chalk Talk blog at www.ibabuzz.com/chalktalk.
