Last week, MPS' Albert Kagel School in Walker's Point celebrated International Day and though I couldn't make it down to check it out, I asked principal Nancy Martinez to send an update.
She tells me that the after-school event was a big success.
"More than 150 families attended the first annual International Day at Kagel Elementary last Thursday."
She says the goal was to get students and their families thinking and learning about cultures around the world.
"Each classroom picked a country– China, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Philippines, Egypt, Peru and India were represented – and prepared colorful displays. Students, teachers and parents worked really hard in preparing student-driven presentations on culture, food, and academic contributions to the world from their chosen country.
"There was great food, music and dancing. This event was proof that activities of this caliber are only possible when school work as a community involving parents, students and staff. We are so grateful to teachers, students and parents that made this event such a huge success."
Congrats to the kids and families at Kagel!
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
