High School Students ‘Make a Difference’

The other day, two High School students came to my door selling homemade cookies in order to support a very worthy cause. Rachael Moheban and Kathleen Maloof, both from the Geist area, are working very hard so they can raise money to buy Christmas presents for a seventh-grade boy named Austin McGowan who is stricken with leukemia at Riley Hospital. They are making a difference in someone’s life as well as fulfilling a class requirement for their Advanced Placement Environmental Science Class at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

“I want to give my students a chance to give something back to their community,” says their teacher, Mr. Steve Guenin, who has borrowed this assignment from a couple places. “Originally, the idea came from the movie, ‘Pay it Forward.’ I stay in close contact with a group of AP Environmental Science teachers, and one of them from California does a similar project.”

Some other worthy projects in Mr.Guenin’s class consist of students taking pictures of positive environmental actions/conditions such as hybrid cars, bio-diesel fuels, greenhouses or planting trees. Other students are satisfying the assignment of “making a difference” by teaching environmental lessons to elementary students, cleaning the White River, and developing a recycling program at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

Mr. Guenin allows students much freedom in how they achieve their classroom goals. “This project enables my students to choose a cause they are passionate about, as well as present it in the method of their choice,” he said.

He has asked many of his students what they thought of this assignment. These are some of their responses: “It makes you feel worthy and responsible;” “It’s fun;” It makes you feel a stronger sense of community;” “Even a kid can make a difference in a community or in the world.”

“I’m very thankful to be a part of this project,” says Moheban. “It has opened my eyes in so many wonderful ways. Mr. Guenin is a very passionate person and has created many opportunities for kids in the school.”

Her co-partner, Maloof, adds, “Mr. Guenin is an awesome teacher and cares a lot about the people around him and people in need. It’s cool to think that such a small thing like selling cookies can make such a difference in someone’s life.”

Together, Moheban and Maloof will have truly made a difference in Austin’s life. They have raised $200 for his Christmas presents, which they plan to deliver at Riley Hospital next week.

If you would like to donate money to help make a difference in this young boy’s life, please contact Rachael Moheban at 829-4509 or Kathleen Maloof at 979-5584.

If you would like to see the projects on display from Mr. Guenin’s classes, you may visit the Hamilton Southeastern High School cafeteria on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 6-8 p.m.

Dockside Dental Celebrates 10 Years in Geist

Dockside Dental, the practice of Dr. Charles J. McCarter, will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary in Geist on January 12, 2008.

Dr. McCarter graduated from IU Dental School in 1989, beginning his dental career in Jeffersonville, Ind. He moved back to Indianapolis in 1990, working as an associate until 1998, when he acquired his current practice, Dockside Dental.

Dr. McCarter and his experienced staff provide family and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. McCarter has been specifically educated in the areas of dental implant restorations, lumineers/veneers and dentures and partials, while continuing his education with the most modern techniques of dentistry.

For more information or to learn about 10-year anniversary specials, please call (317)823-9922 or visit www.Docksideindy.com.

Services for Holly Corey Tuesday in Broad Ripple

Visitation and funeral services for Holly Corey will be on Tuesday, December 4th at the Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Home in Broad Ripple. Visitation will be at 3:00 pm and the services will be at 7:00 pm. If you would like to sign the online guestbook, visit this link.

Free Movie & Love Your Heart

On Friday, Dec. 7, make a date with your spouse or friends for a free sneak preview of the new comedy, PS I Love You, starring Hillary Swank. Wear red to show your support for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign and you’ll get in free! Doors to the brand new AMC movie theater at Castleton Square Mall will open at 6 p.m. The movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. Come early and get great holiday make-up tips, compliments of Macy’s. You can also find out if the holidays are stressing you out with a free blood pressure screening compliments of St.Vincent Heart Center. The Go Red for Women Sneak Preview limited to first 300 people.

Date: Friday, December 07, 2007
Times: 7:00 p.m.
Phone: 317-873-3640
Location: AMC Theater - Castleton Square Mall