International Web Design Contest - Oak Park Winners

Japanese educator Ken Hukusima came to the Chicago area last April. He was about to start a year at Roosevelt University learning about American education. One of his visits in May was to District 97. He visited our schools and was interested in the idea of collaboration between our school and schools in Japan. Already available to our schools is the Global Virtual Classroom web design contest. So "Mr. Ken" found three teachers interested in working with District 97 schools.

For 5 months the students worked together on their sites. The kids at Lincoln school had regular visits from Mr. Ken during the time they worked with Matt Kuntz. Janet Barnstable worked with two different Japanese teachers on two different sites.

Contest results came in on May 2nd; just about 2 hours before The Hukusima Family arrived to meet in real life with their partners!

Here are links to the sites:

Division 1 - Grades 3-7
Gold Award - Nimohsan Space Station
Janet Barnstable & Julian's 7th grade VC students; Yasue Hukusima & 5th grade Ohsawa School- Japan; Marsha Goren & 6th grade Ein Ganim School - Israel
http://gvc0702.gvc07.virtualclassroom.org/

Silver Award - Fairy Tales Around the World
Matt Kuntz & Lincoln's 5th graders; Yoshiko Oike & Yugichno Elementary School - Tokyo, Japan; Doverwood Public School, Canada
http://gvc0704.gvc07.virtualclassroom.org/

Also an Oak Park winner in division 1 (but not with a Japanese partner)
Creative Merit - Wonderful World of Animals
Jim Hayward & Mann School's 4th graders; Milana Zubriskia & Orphanage kids, Novosibirsk, Russia; Amerman Elementary - Northville, MI
http://gvc0707.gvc07.virtualclassroom.org/

Division 2 - Grades 8 -12
Gold Award - A Child's World
Janet Barnstable & Julian's 8th grade VC students; Yumi Tatsushima & computer club - Hokurikugakuin JH School - Kanazawa City, Japan; Milana Zubriskia & Class 10 & 11 - Lyceum NSTU, Novosibirsk, Russia
http://gvc0709.gvc07.virtualclassroom.org/

Julian's award celebration.

Congratulations to all our Oak Park District 97 teams!