Amazing Kids! is proud to highlight the Amazing Kids! of the Month!

Each month, we showcase kids who are accomplishing amazing things.  We hope that by telling their special stories, we will inspire other kids to accomplish their own amazing achievements. 

Amazing Kids! of the Month for October, 1998: 
Project EARTH students, Monterey Highlands School, 
Monterey Park, California

What is Project EARTH?

Project EARTH (Environmental Awareness Research Through Hands-On Activities) is dedicated to connecting students to our environment. 
 

Through its goals and principles, seventh grade students become "actively" involved in science.  Project EARTH stresses scientific exploration, environmental concerns, good communication skills, and connects students to community resources. 

These amazing 7th graders from Project EARTH at Monterey Highlands School really know how to take charge!  Their amazing teacher, Founder and Director of Project EARTH John Jackson, gives his students complete responsibility for keeping Project EARTH running smoothly.  Students are assigned special titles for their different jobs, like "Chief of Staff," and "Press Secretary," -- just like they were adults working in these jobs in the "working world." 

Project EARTH student staff members get to learn about what it takes to be a "Chief of Staff" and other professional jobs for an organization.  This great experience will really help them when they graduate and apply for an actual  paying job as adults!  (Employers who are hiring new employees love to see such experience on a resume!)
 

Monterey Highlands School Home of Project EARTH

One of their way cool projects is their very own Geophysical Data Center, located on the Project EARTH website, located at: http://home.earthlink.net/~projectearth/.  This year, Project EARTH students have an additional 8 computers and direct Internet access, to help them do their science research.  Mr. Jackson, their teacher and Project EARTH director says:  "Look for lots of exciting science from the students!"
 

The latest breaking earthquake news:
Students from the Geophysical Data Center hold a press conference to read their latest Earthquake Bulletin.
From left to right:  Sonja Fontana, Sara Tso, Raffie Ruiz

The students in charge of the Data Center track earthquakes around the world on a daily basis, and they post regular Earthquake Bulletins announcing the size (magnitude) and location of the earthquakes after they occur!  The Data Center also contains a lot of other really interesting facts and information about earthquakes!  These hard-working, dedicated students are in charge of making sure the information is accurate and updated regularly.
 
 

What's Shakin'?
Geophysical Data Center Director Raffie Ruiz and Press Secretary Sara Tso
are pictured above, confirming their earthquake information.

See the list of the Amazing student staff members of Project EARTH!
Read a *program description of Project EARTH! (*of special interest to educators)
Read about the Amazing Teacher who is behind Project EARTH!
Amazing Geophysical Links on the Internet
Visit the  Project EARTH website and read some great articles written by some amazing students! 

• Read a copy of Project EARTH's Impact Science Magazine on the Project EARTH website!
• Read about the Student Science Symposium on the Project EARTH website!
• Read about what the Project EARTH students have to say about Project EARTH!
• Read comments from last year's staff members!
• View a cartoon by amazing cartoonist Derek Isozaki!

Contact Project EARTH

Where in the world?
Sophia Lee and Raymond Hang help identify the epicenter of a recent quake.

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Project EARTH Program Description

Project EARTH is part a science program called Impact Science, which "integrates the sciences and technology with a passion." 

Here's what Project EARTH director Mr. John Jackson says about Project EARTH:  "In the highest sense, Project EARTH (Environmental Awareness Research Through Hands-on activities) is dedicated to connecting students to our environment.  Project EARTH stresses scientific research, good communications skills, and deep concern for the environment."

Impact Science Consists of Several Main Components:

• A Geophysical Research Data Center is a computer technology center utilized to monitor earthquake, volcanic, and scientific events worldwide. 
• Impact Science Magazine is a scholarly written student magazine. 
• Student Science Symposium connects students with the scientific community and the Internet.
• Environmental and Earth Science field study trip to Death Valley National Park. (one of the most popular activities for the students! Read what students have to say about it on the Project EARTH website!)

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH DATA CENTER

• Analyze, research, collect data and report on earthquake and volcanic events worldwide
• Issue press releases/bulletins and news briefings relating to geophysical events
• Train a cadre of students in the operations of computers/Internet
• Increase student's knowledge and awareness of our geophysical world

• Develops students writing skills
• Serves as an assessment tool
• Promotes student self-esteem
• Increase communication between students, parents and the community

• Connects students with community resources
• Increases students' oral language skills
• Evaluates student progress
• Demonstrates how students can take responsibility for their own education

• Improve scientific literacy
• Involve students in active learning
• Link science with Language Arts and other curricular
• Build a strong connection in students for our physical environment.

To ensure proper application of computers and the Internet, their use is limited to academic research. Our policy is focused forwards aiding education and academic research.

Monterey Highlands School
400 Casuda Canyon Drive
Monterey Park, CA 91754

Phone: (626) 308-2723
Fax: (626) 308-2724
E-mail: projectearth@earthlink.net
On the Internet at:  http://home.earthlink.net/~projectearth

Future seismologists... Joanna Li (right), Director of Communication, discusses her communication plan  with her fellow Project EARTH experts, Sonja and Hyatt.

Aileen Inthisane
Chief Financial Officer

Sara Tso
Press Secretary

Sandy Hayashi
Director of Publications

Edward Kuoy
Editor In Chief
Impact Science Magazine

Joanna Li
Director of Communication

Andrew Quintana
Staff Photographer

Milo Tam
Director of Environmental Affairs

Raffie Ruiz
Director of the Geophysical Data Center

Gina Liang
Director of Technology

Sophia Lee
Administrative Assistant

Sonja Fontana
Fund Raising

Mr. Jackson and some of the Project EARTH Amazing Kids!
at the Amazing Kids! booth at Kids Day LA '98,
Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
Pictured Left to Right: Raffie Ruiz, Edwin Gvalavech, David Lai, 
Mr. Jackson,Trisha Tom, Kelli Lui

Amazing Achievements!

• Grand prize and Second Place, California Youth Energy Awards.
• Honored students traveled to Sacramento and Washington D.C.to represent the Alhambra School District and the State of California at the National Energy Education Development Projects competition;
• Monterey Highlands School First, Second, and Third Place, California Youth Energy Award.; Honored students traveled to Sacramento to receive the "California Youth Energy Award" from the First Lady, Gayle Wilson;
• Student Science Symposium chosen 1995 Middle School Project of the Year for the State of California;
• Monterey Highlands School Commendation, Alhambra School District Board of Education; 
• Monterey Highlands School, Winner of the Los Angeles County Plan-It EARTH Environmental Youth Fair;
• Monterey Highlands School; Environmental Education Award, California Arboretum Foundation;
• Monterey Highlands School Earth Day Celebration;
• Project EARTH students' environmental study trip to Death Valley;
• Project EARTH Commendations California; Senate and Legislative Assembly, and, city and Mayor of Monterey Park;
• Monterey Highlands School Commendation, California State Senate Resolution No. 2490 (initiated by Senator Hilda Solis); and,
• Tapestry Grant Toyota/National Science Teachers Association.

• Yahoo's List:  http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Earth_Sciences/Geology_and_Geophysics/

• Seismo-surfing the Internet  - Provided by: Steve Malone

The following are known Internet type connections where original seismic data or seismic research information is available. See the end of the list for several other indexes to related fields. http://www.geophys.washington.edu/seismosurfing.html

• CSM Department of Geophysics  - Department of Geophysics Colorado School of Mines What's Happening Colorado School of Mines http://www.geophysics.mines.edu/ 

• NMSU Geophysics:  http://geophysics.nmsu.edu/ 

• USDOC/NOAA/NESDIS/National Geophysical Data Center  - The National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) manages environmental data in the fields of marine geology and geophysics, paleoclimatology, solar-terrestrial physics, solid earth geophysics, and glaciology (snow and ice). http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/