Seven fifth and sixth grade students from Meridian Middle School in Buffalo Grove and six seventh and eighth grade students from Westfield School in Algonquin created watercolor paintings. Then they discussed a poem by Samantha Abeel, a gifted learning disabled poet. They noted the ways in which trees relate to people, e.g., we are all a part of the forest but each tree is unique, just like each person is unique. Then they compared the shape of a tree to a person. For example, the trunk might represent the core of a person, with the branches being the person's varying interests.
Some people develop bigger branches for different interests.
The talented Highland Strolling Strings from Highland Middle School in Libertyville entertained during the early portion of the dinner. Directed by Deborah Peot, these young people performed an amazing repertoire of music as they meandered among the dinner tables. Marlene Ham concluded the evening's program with an inspirational hymn. As Executive Director Betty Neal Bailey began working last fall as the Executive Director of the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education. She brings to this position a wealth of experience in a diverse 33-year career in education.