The Anne Caplan Tree of Knowledge was a gift to Ojus Elementary School by Leeba Marlow, in loving memory of her sister, Anne Caplan. Anne was a former kindergarten teacher at Ojus for many years and always held a special love in her heart for the school.
This bronze display was dedicated in November of 1996 and is located in the main entrance hallway of the school. The intent of this magnificent oak tree is to build technology endowments for the students in our school, one leaf -- one gift -- at a time.
Like each leaf, each leaf blossoms and multiplies to create a giant sheltering canopy for the hundreds of students who will need to depend on its resources in order to prepare for the 21st Century.
Leaves may be purchased for $100 to celebrate a promotion, a birth, a birthday, a graduation, an anniversary, or any memorable occasion. Foundation bricks located at the base of the tree, may be purchased for $500. Each donation moves us further into the 21st Century.
A "happening" occurred at Ojus Elementary on May 27, 1997. It was the unveiling of the Renee Steinmetz Galaxy of The Stars project. The northern wall in the entrance foyer to the school was designated as the best place to showcase this gift and the effect is wonderful!
Mrs. Steinmetz, whose children are an integral part of our PTA and her grandchildren, current or former Ojus superstar students, passed away in 1997. Her family decided to pay tribute to this special woman by erecting these stars and constellations in her memory. The Galaxy of The Stars project has become an ongoing school fund-raiser so others can be honored or memorialized by their friends and family.
The money raised from this unique project was earmarked directly to the Adopt-A-Class Fund to provide supplies and educational materials for individual classrooms. Thousands of dollars have been raised, and we have already purchased much needed science, geography, and computer programs to facilitate learning. It is our most sincere hope that many others will become "shining stars" in the night sky as they pledge support for the Renee Steinmetz Galaxy of The Stars Wall, both as a tribute and as a special fund-raiser for our school.
