Magic Apple Memories
Students perform at Capitola Mall (donations used for Toys for Tots)
GREAT ACTIVITIES AT MAGIC: Flat Stanley Art, Parachute Games, Lessons taught by students, visiting the agricultural history museum, mentos and diet coke experiments, Zach's surprise birthday play, student body elections and of course--Fran with Liquid Nitorgen!
Magic Apple Fundraiser Update--we made the news on KION 46!
Teen Receives Life Saving Donation. There's an amazing show of support for a very deserving young girl in our community. Students in Aptos presented 14-year old Taylor Simpson with $26,000 for a kidney transplant.
Taylor was diagnosed with kidney failure in November 2011. That diagnosis flipped her world upside down. "It was a huge change. It still is and I'm still transitioning and it's pretty scary at times," said Simpson. Her friends were terrified when they found out how sick she was. "You're scared and they might die and it's just the scariest thing in the world," said Melissa Morgan.
So students at the Magic Apple School decided to do something about it. More than 150 students and their families stepped in to raise money for a kidney transplant. "They did tea parties, they did bake sales, they did garage sales. All kinds of different things to get the money for her," said Wayne Morgan.
The donation for Taylor changed her life. She and her mom were speechless when the community presented them with more than $26,000 at a Magic Apple School performance. "I was shocked at $5,000, I was astonished at $10,000 and about this much I wasn't even expecting it at all," said Simpson.
Now Taylor and her mom don't have to worry about paying for medical bills. "It has just lifted a huge burden off my shoulders, being a single parent and just not knowing how you know we're going to get through it all," said Taylor's mom.
The kids at Magic Apple are giving Taylor a chance for a healthy life. Taylor says without their support she wouldn't know what to do. "I mean they just made it so much easier and so much better for us," said Simpson.
Taylor is planning on having her kidney transplant this summer. Right now they're waiting to see if her mom is a blood and tissue match so she can give her kidney to her daughter.
The donation money will pay for the cost of the surgery.
MAGIC APPLE SCHOOL'S FUNDRAISER FEATURED in Santa Cruz Sentinel!
APTOS, Calif. -- These aren't your typical youngsters. Instead of being immersed in their Xbox or texting nonstop on their phones, a group of Santa Cruz County children from the Magic Apple School is raising thousands of dollars to benefit a young girl in dire need of a kidney transplant.
That girl is 14-year-old Taylor Simpson, who suffers from Goodpasture's syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the lungs and kidneys. According to her website, Taylor is now on lifesaving hemodialysis three times a week, which will continue until she is able to receive a kidney transplant.
The Magic Apple School children – many of whom do not even know Taylor – have already raised $10,000 for her. In one day, a lemonade stand and bake sale developed by students Ryanna Florez, Hayley Hannigan, Maddie Hill and Emily Mansfield (plus their parents) on the corner of Rio Del Mar and Spanish Bay raised more than $2,000, according to Janice and Francisco Jimenez, who run Magic Apple.
"It's pretty amazing that these kids have such an outlook on life compared to the stuff you typically read in the newspapers," said Magic Apple parent Wayne Morgan. "These kids are outside, thinking about other people, making a difference in their life."
Morgan's daughter, Melissa, is the student body president. She said she and her peers try to adhere to the Magic Apple motto: "You haven't lived a memorable day until you've done something for somebody who can't possibly repay you."
"So Taylor, she can never possibly repay us," explained Melissa. "But this is our memorable day because we know we have done something that someone can never repay us for."
Magic Apple is an afterschool program developed by former Pajaro Valley educators for grades two through six. The school, which requires children to run for office and hold meetings, cultivates a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the community.
"I think for the most part it teaches them empathy, it really does," said Janice and Francisco Jimenez, co-founders of the school. "To think outside of themselves on a weekend, for them to donate and give so much of themselves and their time--it's overwhelming.."
Students at the school have a history of giving back. They have raised money for UNICEF, donated clothing and toiletries to the Santa Cruz Homeless Shelter, gathered used sporting equipment for the Watsonville Police Activities League, and sent a handmade quilt of peace to an orphanage in Haiti.
Now, they are focused squarely on Taylor. Last week, Family Cycling Center in Santa Cruz donated a bike for a raffle scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 25, to benefit the teen. Wayne Morgan said the business community has been a fantastic partner, but the kids are always looking for more donations.
"To help someone that needs our help is awesome," said Wayne's daughter, Melissa, reflecting on what they have done. "Our little school has raised so much money for her already and I think we could keep on going."
Interested donors may contact Janice Jimenez at (831) 688-1753 or [email protected].
That girl is 14-year-old Taylor Simpson, who suffers from Goodpasture's syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the lungs and kidneys. According to her website, Taylor is now on lifesaving hemodialysis three times a week, which will continue until she is able to receive a kidney transplant.
The Magic Apple School children – many of whom do not even know Taylor – have already raised $10,000 for her. In one day, a lemonade stand and bake sale developed by students Ryanna Florez, Hayley Hannigan, Maddie Hill and Emily Mansfield (plus their parents) on the corner of Rio Del Mar and Spanish Bay raised more than $2,000, according to Janice and Francisco Jimenez, who run Magic Apple.
"It's pretty amazing that these kids have such an outlook on life compared to the stuff you typically read in the newspapers," said Magic Apple parent Wayne Morgan. "These kids are outside, thinking about other people, making a difference in their life."
Morgan's daughter, Melissa, is the student body president. She said she and her peers try to adhere to the Magic Apple motto: "You haven't lived a memorable day until you've done something for somebody who can't possibly repay you."
"So Taylor, she can never possibly repay us," explained Melissa. "But this is our memorable day because we know we have done something that someone can never repay us for."
Magic Apple is an afterschool program developed by former Pajaro Valley educators for grades two through six. The school, which requires children to run for office and hold meetings, cultivates a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the community.
"I think for the most part it teaches them empathy, it really does," said Janice and Francisco Jimenez, co-founders of the school. "To think outside of themselves on a weekend, for them to donate and give so much of themselves and their time--it's overwhelming.."
Students at the school have a history of giving back. They have raised money for UNICEF, donated clothing and toiletries to the Santa Cruz Homeless Shelter, gathered used sporting equipment for the Watsonville Police Activities League, and sent a handmade quilt of peace to an orphanage in Haiti.
Now, they are focused squarely on Taylor. Last week, Family Cycling Center in Santa Cruz donated a bike for a raffle scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 25, to benefit the teen. Wayne Morgan said the business community has been a fantastic partner, but the kids are always looking for more donations.
"To help someone that needs our help is awesome," said Wayne's daughter, Melissa, reflecting on what they have done. "Our little school has raised so much money for her already and I think we could keep on going."
Interested donors may contact Janice Jimenez at (831) 688-1753 or [email protected].
Alissa Towley and Jasmine Larson host luncheon in treehouse cafe to raise funds for Taylor!!
Check out another article featured in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/rss/ci_19994842?source=rss
Taylor Simpson, a 14-year-old student at Aptos Junior High and Magic Apple alumni, was recently diagnosed with Goodpasture's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that's caused irreparable damage to her kidneys.
While Taylor awaits a transplant, she is taking numerous medications and spends dozens of hours each week undergoing dialysis at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto. In fact, they were there on Thanksgiving, Taylor's 14th birthday Dec. 15, and even on Christmas.
But they aren't forging through the ordeal alone, as the students and staff of Magic Apple have been working very hard to support Taylor and her mom during this crisis by collecting prizes for a raffle.
Alissa "Rose" Towley, and Jasmine Larcher, however, besides collecting raffle tickets wanted to do even more. Incredibly, they planned a tree house cafe, complete with advertising flyers, menus, and more. And what did they do with all the money they made? Our wonderful girls donated more than $166 to Taylor--we are so proud of them!
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Congrats girls--you inspire us!
CONGRATS TO MAGIC APPLE'S ROCKET CLUB AND THE SUCCESS OF PROJECT M.A.X.-1
SUCCESSFUL ROCKET CLUB LAUNCH !!
Congratulations to the members of Magic Apple's Rocket Club on their creation of an original rocket from the ground up! Different students worked under the expertise of satellite scientist, Peter Eikemeyer, to create an original rocket and that would be built to specifications allowing it to launch successfully. From the payload to the launch vehicle committee, to the designers of the rocket--the hard work put in was certainly worth the effort as we all watched the perfect launch--Project M.A.X-1 was amazing!
Congratulations to the members of Magic Apple's Rocket Club on their creation of an original rocket from the ground up! Different students worked under the expertise of satellite scientist, Peter Eikemeyer, to create an original rocket and that would be built to specifications allowing it to launch successfully. From the payload to the launch vehicle committee, to the designers of the rocket--the hard work put in was certainly worth the effort as we all watched the perfect launch--Project M.A.X-1 was amazing!
MASON LAWRENCE-EMANUEL, MAGIC APPLE ALUMNI, WINS $100 BOND FOR ESSAY!
Magic Apple alumni, Mason Lawrence-Emanuel thrilled Fran and Jan in more than one way when he told them that he had won a $100 bond for an essay he had written about Francisco. Fran was floating on air not long afterwards, when he learned the title of his winning essay, "The Teacher that Inspired Me Most." Tears were shed as both were invited to the award ceremony to hear Mason read his essay aloud. Congratulations, Mason, and thanks for being an inspirational student as well--we are very proud AND appreciative!
MARCH 2011 STUDENT BODY ELECTIONS ROCK AT MAGIC APPLE!
MAGIC APPLE'S STUDENT BODY OFFICERS organized a science day extravaganza! Greenhouse student officer Sebastian, brought a wonderful root viewer to share with his peers. Students were able to see the entire development of radish seeds both under and above the ground--thanks Sebastian!
Magic Apple's Science Leader, Dakota, brought in petri dishes, nutrient agar, and swabs and presented a theory on "double dipping" and bacteria for us to test. Students then divided into teams to come up with the most interesting examples of bacteria around Magic Apple to test--needless to say all are waiting anxiously for the results--thanks Dakota!
CLOWN ART has produced some wonderful results from our clever, talented, and oh so creative students--see below:
MAGIC and APPLE STUDENTS REWARDED WITH A VISIT BY ACROBATS FROM CHINA
CHECK MAGIC APPLE PARENT'S WEBSITE TO SEE VIDEOS OF THIS PERFORMANCE!
Acrobats from China thrill Magic and Apple students in an "up close and personal" performance . . .
JANUARY 2011 SPRING STUDENT BODY ELECTIONS AT MAGIC APPLE
PAST MAGIC APPLE NEWS UPDATES
-January 2011: Magic Apple elections were again remarkably successful with our candidates wowing us once again with the creativity. From Genevieve's remarkable stop action film, to the many candidates donning suits and business wear, to the cooking leader candidates' wonderfully tasty treats--everyone at Magic LOVES elections!
December 2010: Magic Apple's students danced and sang their hearts out at our annual winter show and raised $1,500.00 for a local Food for the Poor program in Aptos.
-November 2010: Magic Apple's Poetry Society rewarded with a trip to Green Valley Cinema. When we first introduced the poem, Geology by Joseph S. Newman (actor Paul Newman's uncle) we knew it was going to be difficult. We offered a basket of books and prizes for those able to commit to memory this wonderful poem to memory and also offered an excursion to see the film , Megamind, at the Green Valley Cinema. We were hoping that maybe 15-20 students would be able to learn this difficult poem and join Magic Apple's Poetry Society.
The incredible result...58 Magic Apple students were able to memorize the poem, (the relevance is staggering when you realize it was written over 60 years ago. Please visit our Magic Apple Poetry Society web page to read the actual poem!
-June 2010: Berkley Brannon just moved on to the regional competition in the Kohl's Kids Who Care program, winning a $1,000 scholarship and the chance to compete for the $10,000 scholarship! Berkley just graduated from Magic Apple where he inspired his fellow students in community service projects and will be attending PCS School in the fall.
-May 2010: Abby Watkins, second grade student at Magic Apple and charter member of the Magic Apple Poetry Society has just been informed that her poem, Venus Flytrap will be published in Poetic Power and that she is now in the running for a cash prize as well!
-May 2010: Mr. Berkley Brannon, was nominated by Jan for the amazing Magic Apple Kids Care program he developed as part of his campaign for Magic Apple Jr. President. Berkley created a program that enabled his fellow Magic Apple students to make a difference in the lives of other children in our community (collecting stationary and back to school supplies for the children at Pajaro Valley Shelter, gathering gently used and outgrown sports equipment for the children participating in the Watsonville police departments PAL league that provides alternative to gang activity, to gathering bikes for the children of San Andreas migrant camp during the holidays to collecting stuffed animals for the children in family court). Berkley was selected as the store winner in our area from among many nominations and was presented a Kohl’s $50 cash card and certificate and is also in the running for a $1,000 cash prize at the regional level.
-Magic Apple recently raised $2,000.00 for Haiti relief.
-Over 25 blankets and towels were collected by our students this winter for local animal shelters.
-Over 14 giant boxes of new and gently used books were donated to the Pajaro Valley Women and Children's Shelter by the students of Magic Apple last fall.
-In December, students sang and danced during our annual holiday recital present at Resurrection church raising over $1,000 for a local Food for the Poor program in Aptos.
December 2010: Magic Apple's students danced and sang their hearts out at our annual winter show and raised $1,500.00 for a local Food for the Poor program in Aptos.
-November 2010: Magic Apple's Poetry Society rewarded with a trip to Green Valley Cinema. When we first introduced the poem, Geology by Joseph S. Newman (actor Paul Newman's uncle) we knew it was going to be difficult. We offered a basket of books and prizes for those able to commit to memory this wonderful poem to memory and also offered an excursion to see the film , Megamind, at the Green Valley Cinema. We were hoping that maybe 15-20 students would be able to learn this difficult poem and join Magic Apple's Poetry Society.
The incredible result...58 Magic Apple students were able to memorize the poem, (the relevance is staggering when you realize it was written over 60 years ago. Please visit our Magic Apple Poetry Society web page to read the actual poem!
-June 2010: Berkley Brannon just moved on to the regional competition in the Kohl's Kids Who Care program, winning a $1,000 scholarship and the chance to compete for the $10,000 scholarship! Berkley just graduated from Magic Apple where he inspired his fellow students in community service projects and will be attending PCS School in the fall.
-May 2010: Abby Watkins, second grade student at Magic Apple and charter member of the Magic Apple Poetry Society has just been informed that her poem, Venus Flytrap will be published in Poetic Power and that she is now in the running for a cash prize as well!
-Over 25 blankets and towels were collected by our students this winter for local animal shelters.
-Over 14 giant boxes of new and gently used books were donated to the Pajaro Valley Women and Children's Shelter by the students of Magic Apple last fall.
-In December, students sang and danced during our annual holiday recital present at Resurrection church raising over $1,000 for a local Food for the Poor program in Aptos.
Magic Apple Students organizing stuffed animals for CASA program assisting children in family court
