Free Republic

A St. Paul elementary school has voted to officially change its name to "Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary," pending approval of the school board. Webster Magnet Elementary is in its first year of a service learning program, and the school wanted a new name to reflect the shift in focus. The site council, made up of parents and community members, put the Obama name and "Webster Service Learning Elementary" on the ballot. Students, staff and St. Paul residents were invited to cast ballots Thursday. The Obama name came away with roughly 60 percent of the 854 votes cast....

Teaching students to care By Kayla Webley Seattle Times Eastside bureau MARK HARRISON / THE SEATTLE TIMES Fifth-graders Harleen Sran, left, and Samantha Grandy wash lunch trays at Henry David Thoreau Elementary School in Kirkland, the result of a lesson by Marie Hartford, foreground. Her elementary students dubbed her "the recycling fairy." With her fairy costume — black garbage-bag skirt and shirt, mini-silverware earrings and a spatula wand — Marie Hartford makes recycling fun for students at Henry David Thoreau Elementary School in Kirkland. Hartford established a recycling program for bottles, cans and milk cartons and inspired students to start...