Contact:                                           
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
kgile@wvusd.k12.ca.us
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204

Vejar Elementary kindergarteners got a chance to experience the Hour of Code on December 11. (Photo Courtesy: Kelli Gile)

Walnut – Walnut Valley students joined tens of millions of students in over 180 countries in the ‘Hour of Code’ campaign held during Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 8 – 14.

“Elementary, middle, and high school teachers around our district embraced the opportunity to enlighten our students’ imaginations. I am really proud of our teachers and appreciate this innovative program,” said Board Member Dr. Tony Torng.

The initiative launched last year by the non-profit Code.org group in an effort to introduce students to computer science, demystify coding, and demonstrate that anyone can learn basic coding.

All 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th Graders at Chaparral Middle School participated on Dec. 9 and 10.

“Our school values 21^st Century skills and providing all students the opportunity to learn computer programming. The Hour of Code is just another example of our school’s dedication toward developing creative problem-solvers,” said 7^th Grade math teacher, Denise Loera.

Math teachers and administrators went above and beyond to support every student’s ability to write algorithms by coding in the classrooms, she explained.

“Last year, our Chaparral Cougars learned to code during the new worldwide event and enjoyed the engaging tutorials and lessons,” Assistant Principal Jen Alcazar said.

Some students even started a coding club as a result of the experience.

Students at C.J. Morris Elementary in Walnut enjoyed this week’s coding lesson.

“Thank you for letting us do this, it is the best day ever!” said 5^th Grader Nicolas Noguera to teacher Tara Noelte.

“The Hour of Code program provides our students a chance to get inside the wonder of making games, robots, airplanes and many other life-related products,” added Torng.

This year’s Hour of Code event kicked off with a “Frozen” tutorial designed to attract more girls. Disney Interactive teamed up with Code.org to create a free one-hour lesson.  During interactive tutorials, students used computer coding to create snowflakes, snowmen and patterns that enable sisters Anna and Elsa (from the popular Frozen movie) to move around the ice.

Vejar Elementary School 4^th Grade students also liked trying out the Angry Birds lessons.

“It’s awesome!” exclaimed Frederick Chin, age 9, after successfully completing the tutorial on Dec. 11.

Teacher Mindy Martin said the children were so excited about the lesson that they didn’t jump out of their chairs when they heard the recess bell.

“And that never happens,” she said.

Vejar kindergarten teacher, Natalie Lawrence, brought her young students to the computer lab for the Hour of Code on Dec. 11.  They practiced using the left, right, and forward coding commands on the tutorial.

“I thought it was an awesome opportunity for my students,” said Lawrence.