BOCES 2 launches
"People Who've Made a Difference" in Holley

Holley students are teaming up with students from Rochester's Helen Barrett Montgomery School #50 to make a difference. They are participating together in a new BOCES 2 Project ADEPT (A Diversified Enrichment Program for the Talented) entitled "People Who've Made a Difference." Students began the two-month program by becoming pen pals - each Holley student in the program was paired with a student from School #50. Then a month later, the Holley students traveled to School #50 to meet their pen pals over breakfast, get to know them, and brainstorm ideas for a community service project. The students decided to conduct penny and nickel drives at their schools for the United Way. "With the schools being in different counties, it was difficult to find an organization that would benefit both communities," said Holley teacher Karen Quaranto, who is helping to organize the project. "By choosing United Way, each school could designate an organization to receive the donation."

During morning assemblies the week of April 7, the Holley students will have the opportunity to meet "People Who've Made a Difference." Morning assemblies will take place from 9-9:40 a.m. and 9:50-10:30 a.m. in the Intermediate Gym. On Monday, April 7, students will meet Gary Mervis, founder of Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc., a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for children and families whose lives have been touched by cancer, AIDS, sickle cell anemia, or violence.

On Tuesday, April 8, Kathy Rapp, engineering manager in the Commercial and Government Group at Eastman Kodak Company, will visit. Rapp worked on the Chandra X-ray space observatory, the third in a series of NASA observatories. The Chandra will use X-rays to chronicle the universe's secrets from its vantage point in space.

Curt Smith will speak to Holley students on Wednesday, April 9. Smith is senior lecturer of English at the University of Rochester, hosts WROC-TV's "Talking Point," and writes a regular column for Messenger-Post newspapers. He has been named among the "100 Outstanding Alumni" of New York's State University System.

Also on Wednesday, Holley students will be having lunch with people who make a difference in their community - local firefighters, police and Holley Mayor Dan Schiavone. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 12:55 p.m.

The final speaker for the week will be Don Alhart, the longest serving television news anchor in the Rochester area. He is currently associate news director for WOKR-TV, anchors the 6 p.m. news and co-anchors the 11 p.m. news. Alhart has a long list of contributions to the Rochester community spanning 30+ years. He will speak on Thursday, April 10.

Throughout the week, students will be making character profiles of each visitor to look for common characteristics. During classroom sessions, students will work with Anthony "Tony" Jordan to examine how a person can make thoughtful and positive decisions. Jordan earned "All Conference" honors playing football for the Kansas City Wildcats, then went on to play for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. He now works as the youth and family program coordinator for the Rochester Housing Authority, creating educational and recreational programs for over 500 youth each year. He will be working with classes Monday through Thursday, 10:45-11:25 a.m., 12-12:40 p.m., 12:50-1:30 p.m. and 1:40-2:20 p.m. in the Library Instructional Room.

Also during the week, a target group of Holley students will be preparing a character education play with director David Schuler. Schuler has taught drama at the high school and college levels. On Friday, April 11, School #50 students will travel to Holley to see the target group present their play, then everyone will have lunch together. They will also give their donation to a representative from the United Way. The lunch and donation presentation will be from 11 a.m. to noon in the cafetorium. The play will be performed from 1:10-1:55 p.m. and 2:05-2:50 p.m. in the Primary Gym.

The goal of the program is to have people who make a positive difference inspire students and give them the courage to be people who make a difference, according to school officials. Holley Elementary School is located at 3800 North Main Street, Holley.