Cathleen Meach, Charles Webster, Sandy Paul, Cindy Tobey and Joy Straub

Meach and her team hope the "California Pow Wow" program will break down the walls of traditional classrooms through the use of modern technologies that connect Northern California students of the Paiute tribe with students in Southern California. The proposal outlines a plan to utilize web cameras and digital cameras to exchange information about regional geography, history and customs. A 77" interactive whiteboard would showcase the digital data students collect, while live video footage would allow them to share anecdotal information about their respective regions and lifestyles. Meach believes this program can not only help students at Vessels Elementary hone their writing skills, but it can also help eliminate stereotypes among each group through direct communication. According to Meach, students will create media-rich research reports and provide reference materials for future fourth-graders at Vessels Elementary and throughout the district.