Woodlake High School Students went back to their drawing boards to teach their peers about safe driving. But they were not alone. Students received a special visit last Tuesday from the Assistant Director of ëthe Simpsonsí, Edwin Aguilar.

Royer Studios, in collaboration with the California Friday Night Live Partnership, received a grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board to implement student led service-learning projects to promote safe driving habits among youth.

Utilizing Royer Studiosí Classroom Awareness Through Animation Program, a highly interactive, hands on process, teens will be working elbow to elbow with top animation industry professionals to create animated public-service announcements in each of the four categories: avoiding driver distractions, Anti-DUI, Seat Belt Safety and Observing the Speed Limit.

Woodlake Students, working in teams will create 12 films that Royer Students will then edit for time and sound effects.

Prior to beginning their projects, students researched their auto safety category and were given fact sheets and quizzes on traffic safety earlier in the week.

Aguilar spoke to numerous classes concerning animation basics, careers and what itís like to work on ëthe Simpsons.í

ìYou have to keep a sketchbook if you want to get into the arts,î said Aguilar. ìYouíll need a portfolio for every job you go for.î

During a special time period Aguilar met and spoke with at-risk WHS students who are in danger of remaining in a gang lifestyle.

Aguilar, a former gang member spoke to those students about choices and told them his own story. Growing up, drawing was something Aguilar only did as part of school. He said growing up in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood he was more consumed with the gang lifestyle and was even stabbed and shot because of his involvement.

But one teacher believed in his potential. After graduation, John Marshall High School teacher Dorothy Lee would call Aguilar and let him know she was sending his stuff into contests and for scholarship opportunities. He was offered a scholarship to the Art Center in Pasadena for animation and finally accepted. After art school he would go on to animate for Hannah Barbara, the Fox show ëthe Tickí and finally ëthe Simpsonsí. He remains in contact with Lee and gave her his Emmy award he won for the Simpsons.

Aguilar believes that itís now his time to give back to students and helps with programs like the Classroom Awareness Through Animation Program.

ìYou can use animation for anything in education,î said Aguilar. ìYou can also use it to teach day to day math or science. There are so many options.î

He challenged the at-risk students to think about where theyíd like to be in ten years and make the necessary choices to change their lives for the better.

Many of the student films being animated were related to texting while driving. The films will air on local cable stations and at community and school events. They will also be available online at www.royerstudios.com.

ìWeíre really excited about this program,î said California Friday Night Live Partnership Administrator, Dr. Jim Kooler. ìItís an amazing process to see kids go from not knowing that much about animation to becoming fully immersed in the project. And they are learning they can not only be a part of their community, but make it a better place to live.î

Buckle Up

In 2007, the Tulare County Friday Night Live (FNL) Mentoring and FNL Kids programs were each awarded seat belt safety grants from the California Friday Night Live Partnership funded by the Office of Traffic Safety. Participating schools included Woodlake High School, Woodlake Valley Middle School and Castle Rock Elementary in Woodlake, Orosi High, El Monte Middle and Palm Elementary Schools and Jim Maples Academy in Porterville. The project involved students conducting pre- and post-surveys at their perspective schools. Choices Program School Community Liaison Gene Mendes said, ìThe pre-survey indicated not all students were wearing their seat belts.î

Based on the knowledge that the single greatest risk of death to young adults ages 15 to 20 is traffic accidents and that one of the key factors is unbuckled seatbelts, Woodlake FNL Mentoring- which includes students from both the high school and Jr. high, as well as those from Castle Rock FNL Kids club took the project even further. The students wanted the message to reach the entire community. FNL Mentors, FNL club member Cody OíDell and advisor Tori Johnson got approval to post signs throughout Woodlake to raise awareness of the issue.

The message for the campaign, Donít ForgetÖ. Get Your Buckle On, was developed this year by Friday Night Live Mentoring students and printed on bright yellow signs which were installed this month. The California FNL Partnership, which is based at the Tulare County Office of Education, has already taken the slogan and reprinted it on key chains for statewide distribution.

ìThe benefit to students in this and other Friday Night Live projects is that they get hands-on experience addressing a significant issue,î said Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. ìThe amount of learning that goes on in discussing the problem, researching the cause, identifying a solution and seeing it implemented is tremendous.î

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