Section: LIFE & LEISURE
Page: D3

Friday, January 24, 1997

TULA PUPPETS INCLUDED IN LIVINGSTON CLASS

Kathleen Dooley

Puppets and people are working hand-in-hand at Livingston Magnet Academy in Albany where nine Russian pole puppets are in residence in the school's new Puppet Center on the third floor.

The puppets will be used for performances of ``Frog Princess,'' created by the professional artists at the Tula Puppet Theatre in Tula, Russia. They are the basis for a new sixth-grade class called Introduction to Puppetry starting this semester.

Margie Rector, seventh- and eighth-grade teacher and director of the Puppet Center, explains the puppets are on loan from the Albany Tula Alliance Inc., an all-volunteer, non-profit association formed in 1991 to encourage educational, economic and health-related partnerships between the Capital Region and Tula, Russia. The sixth-graders are setting up the puppet theater, performing and writing stories about the puppets. By the end of the school year, they will be bringing puppet shows to elementary schools, she said.

Seventh-graders who haven't already had the course will take Introduction to Puppetry next fall and move into Advanced Puppetry, where they learn to make their own puppets. Ultimately, all sixth-graders and the seventh- and eighth-graders who can fit it into their programs, will have a working knowledge of puppetry.

Students will receive additional help from Castlebridge Players, an outreach program of puppetry offered through Hudson Valley Community College, Troy. Rector also plans a field trip to the National Museum of Puppetry in Storrs, Conn. During the course, Olga Alayasov, a Russian student attending The College of Saint Rose, will speak about Tula puppets and help students with the shows. Because the play ``Frog Princess,'' was written in Russian, Alayasov, who grew up in Tula and attended performances of Russian fairy tales at the Tula Puppet Theatre, was able to translate it for class use.

By using the puppets, Rector expects the students to increase reading and writing skills, build self-esteem, acquire performing skills and eventually raise reading and writing test scores. ``There's a lot of characters in the Russian puppet play,'' said the teacher, adding this stimulates imaginations and encourages learning about other cultures.

``I can't wait to write my own puppet show,'' said Runawn Piper. ``It's an awesome project,'' said Corey Halley, a sixth-grader. Kellee McKay looks forward to making her own puppet. Gabe Ticket, another sixth-grader, sums it up for all, ``They're cool,'' he said.

So far, the Puppet Center has funding for three years but ``hopefully it will be forever,'' said Rector.

Robert Cook, a Times Union news carrier for seven years, earned the Eagle Scout award, Boy Scouting's highest honor. A member of Boy Scout Troop 62, he organized a landscaping project at Our Lady of Hope Residence, Latham, for his Eagle project. He is a June graduate of Shaker High and is attending UAlbany, majoring in political science.

Schalmont Varsity Cheerleaders took part in a competition at Shenendehowa High School sponsored by Cheer Ltd. and placed third. They were asked to compete in Myrtle Beach in March at the national competition and need to obtain sponsors to help finance the trip. Call Schalmont High School at 355-6110 for information.

Students from Ballston Spa and Schuylerville high schools took part in producing a video describing the Cornell University Food Industry Internship Program, a program for juniors and seniors who complete Cornell University Home Study course work and serve as paid interns in a store. The video is being used nationwide to inform ninth- and 10th-graders of the benefits of the program and career possibilities.

Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady member Aaron Graham attended the NIKE Youth Sports Summit in Chicago this past November. Of more than 250 club members who applied, only 50 were selected for the three-day summit meeting. Emily Maher of Maple Hill High School, Castleton, was nominated to end the fall Congressional Youth Leadership Council in Washington, D.C.

Anybody for some jump rope? Spring is just around the corner and the first annual Tri City Albany-Schenectady-Troy Double Dutch Championships takes place Saturday, April 12, at Livingston Magnet Academy, 315 Northern Blvd., Albany. Volunteers are needed. Cost to enter four jumpers is $40. For details call 465-5956.

Saratoga Springs Senior High students earned 13 medals during the regional competition of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Jan. 10 at the Empire State Plaza. Medal winners were Dave Pellingra, Matt Relyea, Mike Schietzelt, Scott Whittemore, H.D. Perkins, Paul DeForest, Justin Karlitz-Grodin, Chandra Bellamy, Alan Rogers, Melissa Schultz, Chris Whittekind, Steve Kyne and Pat Byrne. Young Life appears each Friday. Send information for the column to: Kathleen M. Dooley, Features Department, Times Union, PO Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212. Telephone: 454-5494.

New Search