"Water Wars" in E. Africa with Pulitzer This Week
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Students and teachers in numerous schools have been hard at work preparing for the arrival of journalists Jon Sawyer, Sarah Stuteville, Alex Stonehill, and Jessica Partnow in St. Louis this week to discuss the water crisis in East Africa. Hundreds of students have been reading and watching multi-media presentations prepared by the journalists. Blogging between students and journalists is in full swing; there will be plenty of ground to cover for the school visits. Here is the schedule of high school and middle school visits:
Wednesday, October 1, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM St. Joseph's Academy Thursday, October 2, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Lindbergh High School (host) with Parkway West High School and Lift for Life Academy Thursday, October 2, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM S.L.U.H. (host) with Crossroads, Metro, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Rosati-Kain, and University City High School Friday, October 3, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Webster Groves (host) with Hixson Middle School and Nerinx Hall Friday, October 3, 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM Collinsville High School Saturday, October 4, 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon Teacher workshop at KETC-TV / Beacon On-line Newspaper -- 3655 Olive Blvd.; 63108 (map)
We want to remind you that the Pulitzer Center has launched a remarkable new section for this project. It provides new possibilities for in-depth study by students as well as opportunities for extensive blogging with journalists and students from other schools. This includes students in Kenya, ones who are in the heart of the "Water Wars in East Africa" troubles. Thanks to journalist Ernest Waititu, editor-in-chief of Afrikanews.org, students in two schools in Kenya will be interacting with American students no later than next week. Finally, it would be very helpful if teachers could have their students take the Student Water Usage Survey prior to the visit. You can access the PDF file by clicking here.
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Results of High School Country Draft |
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Our thanks to all the students who came to Crossroads last Saturday for our 2008 Country Draft. This is in preparation for our Saturday, November 22 session at Spazio's in Westport (map) from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM. Here is a list of countries that were drafted: | Bishop DuBourg Collinsville Lindbergh Maplewood-Richmond Heights - Italy
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- United Kingdom
Metro Nerinx Hall - Colombia
- France
- Kuwait
- Turkey
| Rosati-Kain St. Joseph's Academy - Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Georgia
- Libya
S.L.U.H. - China
- Cote D'Ivoire
- Japan
- Switzerland
University City - Burundi
- Russian Federation
Webster Groves - Ireland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
| As you can tell, a number of countries still remain for drafting. We will allocate them on a "first request - first serve basis." To request a country or if you have any questions, e-mail us at info@civitas-stl.com or call (314) 367-6480.
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Students - Adult Conversation on
Active Citizenship
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Last Thursday evening, teenagers and adults tackled difficult questions related to active citizenship by students. Should high school seniors and juniors be allowed to vote in school-related elections? Is there a place for student voices in the discussion of displinary systems, teacher evaluation and curriculum? How do students respond to pandering from politicians? These questions and more were on the table as students from Civitas programs and adults including many recruited by the Missouri History Museum come together for a dialogue sponsored by both organizations. Washington University freshman Allison Reed and Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith offered opening remarks. Allison discussed the pros and cons of increased rights for students and reminded everyone that with rights come responsibilities. Jeff discussed the complexity of extending rights to students and how young people can earn the respect of adults by learning to live by fair rules in a democracy. They agreed in princple to expanding student rights, but felt that a great deal still needs to be done for this to happen. Following their remarks, people divided into small groups with students and adults at each table. Questions for consideration were prepared by Emily Underwood and Alex Detrick of the museum staff. Following this discussion, representatives of each table presented their conclusions and took questions from others. The evening ended as might be expected, with as many questions as answers. We do not want this idea to die; we will continue to sponsor programs and activities to further this dialogue.
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Washington U. Model U.N. Oct. 17-19 |
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There is still time to register for the Washington University Model U.N. (WUMUNS). The staff of the MUN is very flexible, so students would not have to miss any school. WUMUNS and Civitas have combined to ensure that any student desiring to participate and who cannot afford the fees (limited) will be able to attend. The committee structure is very creative and exciting. In one group, each student will represent one of President Kennedy's advisors during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In another, delegates will represent one of the twenty-five members of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. There will also be a World Health Organization and a U.N. Security Council. You can get more information at www.wumuns.net. Registration is available at www.wumuns.net/registration.html. If you want more information, please contact our Civitas-WUMUNS liaison, Ariana Miller at miller.ariana@gmail.com.
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Upcoming Civitas Events
(Actual events in bold -- always subject to change when change occurs!) Black: High School Blue: Middle School
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| Date | Time | Place | Activity | | | | | | Wed.,
10/1/2008 - Sat.,
10/4/2008 | Varies | Varies | Global Gateway Program on "Water Wars in East Africa" with Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting | Sat.,
10/11/2008 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #4 | Mon.,
10/13/2008 | 4:00 PM- 5:00 PM | "The Heights" in Richmond Heights (map) | Middle School Teacher Meeting with Country Draft | | Fri., 10/17 - Sun. 10/19 | Varies | Varies | Washington University Model United Nations for High School Students | Thurs.
10/23/2008 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Washington
University | Carl Bernstein at Center for Study of Ethics & Human Values | Fri.
10/24/2008 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | T.B.A. | Viewing of "Hotel Rwanda" | Sat.,
10/25/2008 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #5 & Model UN Prep Session | Fri.,
10/31/2008 | Early Evening | Varies | UNICEF Trick or Treating | Sat.,
11/01/2008 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #6 & Model UN Prep Session | Fri.,
11/07/2008 | T.B.A. | Missouri History Museum (map) | Eric Greitens Book Signing | Sat.,
11/08/2008 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #7 & Model UN Prep Session | Wed.
11/19/2008 | 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Chase-Park Plaza (map) | Middle School MUN Student & Teacher Workshop | Sat.,
11/22/2008 | 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM | Spazio's of Westport (map) | HIgh School Model U.N. |
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What's Civitas? See video below: |
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This is a long newsletter, but the information is key. |
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