Jackson Center To Host Program For Area Eighth-Graders
Officials from the Robert H. Jackson Center have announced a major two-day event scheduled for April 5 and 6.
‘‘We are very pleased that two outstanding American educators will be coming to the Jackson Center in an event focused on eighth-grade middle school students,’’ said Greg Peterson, Jackson Center president.
Jerry Spinelli, award-winning author of the book, Milkweed, will speak to approximately 600 middle school students at the Jackson Center at two separate morning sessions on Wednesday, April 6, according to Peterson.
‘‘At an evening program on April 5, we will be honoring the accomplishment winners of a statewide and local Book Review Contest on Mr. Spinelli’s book, which deals with events surrounding the Holocaust in Warsaw, Poland during World War II,’’ Peterson said. ‘‘The featured speaker for the Tuesday night event will be Helen Fagin, Holocaust survivor and former professor of English and director of Judaic Studies at the University of Miami, Florida.’’
Rolland Kidder, executive director of the Jackson Center, said that these events are being jointly sponsored by the Robert H. Jackson Center and the New York State Bar Association’s, Law, Youth and Citizenship Program.
‘‘For the second year in a row, we are cooperating with the LYC Program in sponsoring a statewide writing competition,’’ Kidder said. ‘‘Last year the competition was geared for 11th graders and this year we are doing it with eighth graders. Six winners from across New York state will be coming to the Jackson Center with their parents. We will also be giving awards to two students from Chautauqua County who have submitted winning reviews on Mr. Spinelli’s book.
‘‘This writing competition is part of the Jackson Center’s ongoing mission to reach out to elementary, middle and secondary school students with educational events which are related to the legacy of Robert H. Jackson ... in this case, his legacy of preserving the record of the Holocaust through his efforts at the Nuremberg War Trial.’’
Anita Sanctuary, Jackson Center volunteer and coordinator of the two-day event, also announced that the program featuring Spinelli on April 6 was offered to all eighth-grade classes within Chautauqua County, that schools had been accepted on a ‘‘first-come/firstserve’’ basis, that all reservations were fully subscribed, and that there would be no room at the Jackson Center to accommodate the general public.
‘‘We are very pleased with interest that has been shown by students and teachers in coming to hear Mr. Spinelli,’’ Ms. Sanctuary said. ‘‘Despite the fact that there would be no more room available at the Jackson Center itself, the program with Mr. Spinelli will be broadcast over the BOCES Distance Learning Network, will be available at Distance Learning rooms in schools throughout the BOCES system, and will also be linked to a screening room at the Jackson Center.’’
The program at the Jackson Center on April 5 will begin with a spaghetti dinner at 6 p.m. The cost is $7 and reservations are required. Anyone interested in attending the dinner event should call the Jackson Center, 483-6646 for reservations.
At 7:00 p.m. Dr. Helen Fagin will speak in the auditorium and the public is welcome at no cost. The Book Review Contest winners will also be honored at that time.
Jackson Center officials thank their sponsors for making these events possible, including: Acu Rite, Brigiotta’s Farmland Stores, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Comfort Inn, Ronald McDonald House Charities of WNY Inc., National Fuel Gas; New York State Bar Law, Youth and Citizenship Program; and the New York State Bar Foundation.