The West Allis Education Foundation, a subsidiary of your West Allis/West Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, has chosen four worthy projects to award the 2005-06 Crystal Apple Awards. 

Those that Serve to Keep Us Free
In May 2004 the West Milwaukee Middle School history department was contacted by the POW*MIA support group from the Clement Zablocki VA Center.  The VA group was interested in presenting a POW*MIA Missing Man Ceremony off campus, and the school considered it an honor and embraced the project with enthusiasm.  Teachers prepared learning objectives for the eighth grade middle school students in preparation for the ceremony, which remembered the sacrifices made by past POWs and celebrates the contribution that all military personnel have made to preserve freedom and democracy throughout the world.

The Village at Manor Park
Title One students from Horace Mann Elementary School have joined with independent living residents from the Village at Manor Park to reinforce the students academic skills and grow social skills.  Students read to the same older "friend" each month and work on activities like word searches, crossword puzzles, etc.

Friendship Club
West Milwaukee Middle School developed an after school club to fulfill the void left by the absence of extra-curricular opportunities for special education students.  Friendship Club pairs up regular education students with special education students to help break through social barriers.  The club meets twice per month after school and the "friends" work on different activities such as designing t-shirts, spirit buttons, and dancing.

Caves
Frank Lloyd Wright Middle School hosted the first "Cave Day" for Walker and Franklin Elementary third graders and their teachers.  The teachers developed a unit of study focusing on caves with a multidisciplinary approach: the eighth grade students visited Cave of the Mounds, read materials about caves, and created books for the third graders.  The third graders visited the Middle School for Cave Day and the older students shared their expertise with them.  The event also benefited the older students who learned to work with kids.

The Crystal Apple Awards were presented to this excellent group of teachers on Thursday, March 16, 2006 at a Ceremony at the Village at Manor Park.  Thanks to all who were able to participate in the awards and dinner.