Fifth graders study Africa, follow their teacher's trip to Nigeria
Students in Brenna O'Hearn's fifth grade classroom at St. James School in Arlington Heights love to incorporate new technology with their assignments.
With their recent project on Africa, they took turns stepping up to a SMART interactive whiteboard, where with the touch of a finger, they flipped between slides of local points of interest, geography facts and historical data.
Students boned up on African countries in advance of O'Hearn's trip there, with a delegation of educators from the Archdiocese of Chicago's Office of Catholic Schools.
O'Hearn was one of five Northwest suburban teachers out of 10 people to leave last week for Nsukka, in south central Nigeria. They return Sunday.
Among those joining her was her father, Vito DeFrisco, principal of St. Hubert School in Hoffman Estates; Sr. Mary Zachary Sergeena, principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Streamwood; and Gretchen Ludwig and Jeanne Henry, principal and teacher respectively from Holy Family Catholic Academy in Inverness.
"I've always wanted to go into the Peace Corps," O'Hearn said. "For as long as I can remember, I've dreamed of helping people in Africa."
Now, she can.
The delegation's mission is to help the diocese of Nsukka establish an Office of Catholic Education to support their schools. On this visit alone, they planned to visit 15 schools and two hospitals.
According to the Chicago Archdiocese, the partnership developed out of a friendship between Cardinal Francis George and Bishop Francis Okobo in Nsukka. They hope to set up a long-term partnership, starting with a college level lab school to train teachers.
"This is more of an educational journey, where we'll be observing and learning as much as we can about them," DeFrisco said. "When we're at a point where we can help them, we want to do it within their own culture."
Before she left, O'Hearn took photos of her fifth graders, including ones with snow, to share with the Nigerian students. Meantime, DeFrisco packed his school's yearbook showing pictures of the St. Hubert Knights.
Photos seemed to be a big focus of the trip. O'Hearn promised her students she would shoot a list of things they had compiled from their African studies, from cars and local schools, to animals and children playing.
Joey DeFilippo of Arlington Heights made a special request: "I want to see teachers and kids having fun."
Before she left, O'Hearn's students surprised her with a little technology of their own: an iPod to keep her occupied during the long hours of travel.
They have been following her travels and photos online, on the delegation's blog. They also have been raising money for the diocese's "Dollars for Dreams" campaign to support Catholic schools in the Nsukka diocese.
St. James Principal Judy Pappas asked the fifth graders why they thought it was important to learn about Africa and support their teacher's journey.
Their answers varied.
Some thought they might travel there some day, while others said they probably would have a quiz on it. A show of hands confirmed Pappas' hunch that most of their parents travel internationally for business.
"Our world is beginning to shrink," Pappas said. "Through our technology and ability to travel, we are able to go to places like Nigeria like never before. So it is important for us to understand about their schools, their culture and how they live."
To learn more about the Nsukka Project and follow the teachers online, visit: ocs.archchicago.org/NsukkaProject.aspx.