Students make first donation in tsunami relief effort

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California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell (fourth from left) attended a presentation by TEAM Tsunami from Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School in which it presented a check for $13,750 for tsunami relief. See story page B3. Photo by Tricia Wilcox.

California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy were in attendance last Thursday to observe Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School’s TEAM (Teaching Environmental Awareness in Malibu) Tsunami presentation of a $13,750 check to Dr. Michael Coyne, founder of seaturtle.org, for tsunami relief. The students have been raising the money for the past month with help from the Point Dume Elementary community as well as Webster and Juan Cabrillo schools.

TEAM Tsunami’s goal is to raise $33,000. The money will go toward the rebuilding of Naucrates Marine Research Center and nearby villages on the island of Koh Prah Thong, Thailand that were destroyed by last year’s tsunami.

TEAM Tsunami made a presentation last Thursday on its fundraising efforts. Principal Chi Kim then read student-authored questions for O’Connell to answer. After O’Connell left, Coyne, of seaturtle.org, discussed his background and answered questions about sea turtles. John Karson, a tsunami survivor, told the students about his experience and explained what the tsunami waves looked like.

Donations to the TEAM Tsunami effort may be made through the Internet by going to www.teamtsunami.org