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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
City council candidates spend less than $10,000 – so far
Stanhope fails to file
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Jeff LaFortune put on a one-man show performing The NED Show school assembly at Lake Canyon Elementary. With fast flying yo-yo and a series of funny stories and impressions, LaFortune kept the students engaged while teaching them that NED stands for “Never give up, Encourage others, and to do your best.”
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By Kymm Griffin
Staff Writer
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The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District has made character education a focus at all schools and across the school district many assemblies have been dedicated to this topic. Students at Lake Canyon Elementary are learning that character education can come in many forms, including a fast flinging yo-yo.
The NED Show, as the assembly is called, centers on teaching children to “Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best.” The assembly was a fast paced, one man yo-yo show performed by Jeff LaFortune.
“Our mission is to encourage and inspire students everywhere. We believe there is a champion in every kid,” per the NED show Web site.
The performance captivated the students attention and had them laughing and cheering along. LaFortune dramatized a story about how choices impact our life and all of the crazy things that can happen to a person who makes bad choices, like getting captured by aliens.
“When you don’t make the right choices, bad things can happen to you,” said LaFortune. “Doing your best means making the right choices.”
The story was brought to life with fast-paced sound effects and yo-yo tricks that dramatized the action, like walking the dog, riding a Ferris wheel, a man on a flying trapeze and even encountering a flying saucer. The children laughed and applauded the tricks as the story unfolded.
For first grade student Austin Marcoccia, the alien story stole the show.
“I liked the part when the aliens were shooting green macaroni and cheese at him,” said Marcoccia, who walked away with a free yo-yo. “I don’t even know how to make it go back up yet. My mom and dad are helping me.”
Marcoccia was selected to receive the yo-yo after volunteering that NED stands for Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best.
The message met the students right at their level by comparing passing through grades at school with passing through levels on video games. Students were encouraged to take what they learned in one level and use in the next, so as to bring out the champion in each of them.
As the student filed back to class many could be heard retelling their favorite parts and wanting a yo-yo.
For more information about The NED Show, go to www.thenedshow.com.
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