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By STEPHANIE BOMBAY
Thursday, January 27, 2000 Page: 16-17
sbombay@leader.net Theresa Janus found it difficult to control her emotions
last week.
Standing in the gymnasium at Dodson Elementary School on Jan. 20, she saw a
model of the beach her father stormed more than 50 years ago. Then she saw
photos of her father, the late Anthony M. John, with his buddies from the
Fourth Armored Division.
But it was not sadness that overwhelmed Janus; it was realizing the time
and effort her son David put into his project for the school’s millennium
social studies fair.
“I’m really proud of him,” Theresa said of her son’s work and passion for
history. The sixth-grader interviewed his mother and grandmother while
researching the invasion of Normandy.
His display featured a three-dimensional model of the battle. David paid
close attention to the bunkers that housed German soldier, making sure to show
that they were partially underground.
David said his grandfather’s experiences inspired his project and he was
happy to share his story with classmates.
“He came out of these boats that landed on Normandy,” explained David as
he pointed to his poster.
David’s enthusiasm and attention to detail earned him first place in the
fair which was judged by the city school’s social studies and art teachers.
Sixth-graders were asked to pick a person, event or invention from the last
1,000 years.
David knew immediately that he wanted to student the invasion of Normandy,
but did not expect to win.
“I was excited but I wasn’t doing this for first place. I was doing it for
my grandpa and all the men that died in the war.”
Other winners were Stephen Morio, second place, and Minh Chau, third place.
Morio recreated the modern Olympics, with a little papier mache and plastic
figurines.
Chau used paper to create a model of one of the first typewriters featuring
movable keys.
The school welcomed parents and members of the community to the school Jan.
20 to allow the participants to show off their projects.
Sixth-grade teachers gave a suggestion list to students a few months ago
when work began on the project, but many students had ideas of their own.
Jennifer Gurdock took advantage of the program to further explore her
favorite piece of history: the sinking of the Titanic.
“I was very interested before the movie came out. It was a tragedy, but it
was interesting.”
The sixth-grader turned to a classmate and her grandmother for help in
bringing the tale to life. Friend Amanda Reed helped Gurdock turn a modern-day
life preserver into a piece of Titanic memorabilia. They painted it white,
then added the doomed luxury liner’s name. Reed also applied white makeup to
Gurdock’s face so she would resemble the chilled survivors.
Gurdock borrowed her grandmother Dorothy Krugel’s rabbit fur coat.
Jessica Hooker, a sixth-grader, researched the life and accomplishments of
Harriet Tubman.
“I wanted to do it, because she’s my role model and she risked her life
for a lot of people.”
Her presentation included drawings and photographs, as well as a Tubman
Precious Moments doll Hooker’s mother purchased. Other than the doll, Hooker’s
mother did not help her with the project.
“My mom offered to, but I wanted to do it myself.”