In 2006 my fourth grade class led this project which involved the entire school community.
The article below was written by the Romanian press
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Roma Virtual Network" < romale@zahav.net.il>
To: <Romanian_Roma@yahoogroups.com >
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:29:24 +0200
Subject: [Romanian Roma] Romania: Ovidiu Rom Introduces "Roma Day" to AISB students
Ovidiu Rom Introduces "Roma Day"
to Students at the American International School of Bucharest
A "learning exchange" between Asociatia Ovidiu Rom and AISB celebrates cultural diversity
In honor of Roma Day, a dozen children enrolled in Asociatia Ovidiu Rom's programs at School 141 near Piata Rahova kicked off Friday's student assembly at American International School of Bucharest by performing a traditional Romany dance. AISB ninth and tenth graders then took the Ovidiu Rom kids under their wing and led a series of interactive games.
This latest "student to student" activity was spawned by AISB 's lower school Principal, Tamara Shreve and is being led by 4th grade teachers, Liz Hayes and Mark Mayer. It all started in January when AISB 4th graders who were studying child labor in their social studies class, formed a relationship with Ovidiu Rom as a way to become involved in the local community and issues. They have been collecting donations of clothing, toys and other needed items, and talking about Ovidiu Rom to their friends and parents. In March they spent a day with Ovidiu Rom's students at School 141 in Sector 5's Piata Rahova neighborhood. They helped Ovidiu Rom's children practice their English as they played board games brought by the AISB students.
Later that week, the 4th graders reported on their experience at a school assembly. One AISB parent commented, "Sitting in the assembly this morning, I had what Oprah calls an "aha" moment. While we want our kids to read well and know multiplication and division, what we are really doing is preparing them to be good citizens of the world. I have seen my son really "take on," and internalize, some difficult subject matter in a very personal and meaningful way. His learning has sparked dinner conversations about the poverty cycle (he explained the definition to us). The 4 th graders not only learned about the problem, but actively participated in efforts to make a change for the families involved with Ovidiu Rom. This has empowered them in a way that I believe they will carry with them for life. I know I see a profound new awareness in my son, and the parents I was sitting with this morning echoed the same for their children."
Another parent commented, "My daughter was happy to see the things she has donated being used by the students at School 141 – so that was great for her to see a tangible result of her efforts."
Ovidiu Rom's director Maria Gheorghiu noted, "Our partnership actually started five years ago when AISB donated their old classroom furniture to our brand new education program in Bacau. Since then they have allowed our teachers to observe their classes and attend training session on a regular basis. Ovidiu Rom president Leslie Hawke added, "I am amazed by the enthusiasm, maturity and social consciousness of the American School 4th graders. Friday was a chance for our students to proudly share a little bit of their cultural roots with the AISB students by introducing "Roma Day" and demonstrating traditional Roma dances.
About Ovidiu Rom
Asociatia Ovidiu Rom works to promote self-sufficiency among the poorest members of Romanian society through education, job training, community development and public awareness. Its award-winning program "Gata, Dispus si Capabil" is an adaptation of the highly-regarded welfare-to-work program, Ready, Willing & Able, which was developed in the U.S. by The Doe Fund of New York.
Leslie Hawke and Maria Gheorghiu started "Gata, Dispus si Capabil" in 2001, with seed funding from USAID, as a project of the Fundatia de Sprijin Comunitar in Bacau. " Gata, Dispus si Capabil" helps impoverished mothers find and keep jobs, and helps impoverished children get into school, stay in school, and excel in school. Ovidiu Rom currently supports over 400 children and 200 families.
To volunteer, donate or obtain more information, please contact:
Alina Seghedi, Director of Development, Asociatia Ovidiu Rom alina@ovid.ro ; 315-8806 or 0723-222-550; www.ovid.ro; About AISB
AISB was created in 1962 at the initiative of then-U.S. Minister (later Ambassador) William Crawford. Since its inception, the school has operated under the authority of the U.S. Ambassador to Romania, has been governed by a board of directors appointed by the U.S. Ambassador and has had the Deputy Chief of Mission as its Chair. As stated in the school's charter, "…The school is an instrumentality of the United States which operates under the auspices of the United States Embassy….the character of the American School of Bucharest shall be exclusively educational; it shall be non-profit, with no parts of the net earnings to benefit any private shareholders."
The school continues to operate today under the terms of the U.S.-Romanian bilateral assistance treaty, which was ratified by the Romanian government and signed into law in 1996. AISB currently has approximately 580 students representing 51 different nationalities including over 100 Romanian students. The school is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), which enables AISB to offer its graduates an American high school diploma and by the Council of International Schools (CIS), which is responsible for accrediting most international schools worldwide. The school is also authorized to offer its students the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Program, culminating in an IB Diploma.
The article below was written by the Romanian press
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Roma Virtual Network" < romale@zahav.net.il>
To: <Romanian_Roma@yahoogroups.com >
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:29:24 +0200
Subject: [Romanian Roma] Romania: Ovidiu Rom Introduces "Roma Day" to AISB students
Ovidiu Rom Introduces "Roma Day"
to Students at the American International School of Bucharest
A "learning exchange" between Asociatia Ovidiu Rom and AISB celebrates cultural diversityIn honor of Roma Day, a dozen children enrolled in Asociatia Ovidiu Rom's programs at School 141 near Piata Rahova kicked off Friday's student assembly at American International School of Bucharest by performing a traditional Romany dance. AISB ninth and tenth graders then took the Ovidiu Rom kids under their wing and led a series of interactive games.
This latest "student to student" activity was spawned by AISB 's lower school Principal, Tamara Shreve and is being led by 4th grade teachers, Liz Hayes and Mark Mayer. It all started in January when AISB 4th graders who were studying child labor in their social studies class, formed a relationship with Ovidiu Rom as a way to become involved in the local community and issues. They have been collecting donations of clothing, toys and other needed items, and talking about Ovidiu Rom to their friends and parents. In March they spent a day with Ovidiu Rom's students at School 141 in Sector 5's Piata Rahova neighborhood. They helped Ovidiu Rom's children practice their English as they played board games brought by the AISB students.
Later that week, the 4th graders reported on their experience at a school assembly. One AISB parent commented, "Sitting in the assembly this morning, I had what Oprah calls an "aha" moment. While we want our kids to read well and know multiplication and division, what we are really doing is preparing them to be good citizens of the world. I have seen my son really "take on," and internalize, some difficult subject matter in a very personal and meaningful way. His learning has sparked dinner conversations about the poverty cycle (he explained the definition to us). The 4 th graders not only learned about the problem, but actively participated in efforts to make a change for the families involved with Ovidiu Rom. This has empowered them in a way that I believe they will carry with them for life. I know I see a profound new awareness in my son, and the parents I was sitting with this morning echoed the same for their children."
Another parent commented, "My daughter was happy to see the things she has donated being used by the students at School 141 – so that was great for her to see a tangible result of her efforts."
Ovidiu Rom's director Maria Gheorghiu noted, "Our partnership actually started five years ago when AISB donated their old classroom furniture to our brand new education program in Bacau. Since then they have allowed our teachers to observe their classes and attend training session on a regular basis. Ovidiu Rom president Leslie Hawke added, "I am amazed by the enthusiasm, maturity and social consciousness of the American School 4th graders. Friday was a chance for our students to proudly share a little bit of their cultural roots with the AISB students by introducing "Roma Day" and demonstrating traditional Roma dances.
About Ovidiu Rom
Asociatia Ovidiu Rom works to promote self-sufficiency among the poorest members of Romanian society through education, job training, community development and public awareness. Its award-winning program "Gata, Dispus si Capabil" is an adaptation of the highly-regarded welfare-to-work program, Ready, Willing & Able, which was developed in the U.S. by The Doe Fund of New York.
Leslie Hawke and Maria Gheorghiu started "Gata, Dispus si Capabil" in 2001, with seed funding from USAID, as a project of the Fundatia de Sprijin Comunitar in Bacau. " Gata, Dispus si Capabil" helps impoverished mothers find and keep jobs, and helps impoverished children get into school, stay in school, and excel in school. Ovidiu Rom currently supports over 400 children and 200 families.
To volunteer, donate or obtain more information, please contact:
Alina Seghedi, Director of Development, Asociatia Ovidiu Rom
alina@ovid.ro ; 315-8806 or 0723-222-550; www.ovid.ro;
About AISB
AISB was created in 1962 at the initiative of then-U.S. Minister (later Ambassador) William Crawford. Since its inception, the school has operated under the authority of the U.S. Ambassador to Romania, has been governed by a board of directors appointed by the U.S. Ambassador and has had the Deputy Chief of Mission as its Chair. As stated in the school's charter, "…The school is an instrumentality of the United States which operates under the auspices of the United States Embassy….the character of the American School of Bucharest shall be exclusively educational; it shall be non-profit, with no parts of the net earnings to benefit any private shareholders."
The school continues to operate today under the terms of the U.S.-Romanian bilateral assistance treaty, which was ratified by the Romanian government and signed into law in 1996. AISB currently has approximately 580 students representing 51 different nationalities including over 100 Romanian students. The school is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), which enables AISB to offer its graduates an American high school diploma and by the Council of International Schools (CIS), which is responsible for accrediting most international schools worldwide. The school is also authorized to offer its students the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Program, culminating in an IB Diploma.