Kalefa and Farhat shake hands after Kalefa’s speech at the State Capitol building for Charter Day.
Eighth-grader Cizar Ben Kalefa and sixth-graders Maanit Patel and Shyu Ru Choy participated in a living wax museum where they each represented a Michigan lawmaker. Kalefa embodied State Representative Alabas Farhat, Patel dressed up as State Representative Ranjeev Puri, and Choy represented State Senator Stephanie Chang.
Each student researched their legislator, watching their speeches and reading about their connection to their district. Kalefa, Patel, and Choy then had to write their own speech and perform it on the steps of the State Capitol. Kalefa and Patel were able to meet with Farhat and Puri, creating a firsthand connection to state politics for these scholars.
(From left to right) Maanit Patel, Cizar Ben Kalefa, and Shyu Ru Choy participated in the living wax museum as a part of Charter Day at the State Capitol. Each student was tasked with representing a state legislator.
The opportunity was presented to Canton Principal Jennifer Conley through the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) and she worked with middle school teachers to identify Kalefa, Patel, and Choy as Canton’s representatives. She said engaging in this activity was important.
“It allowed students to see the impact of our state political figures,” Conley said. “It also gave our local legislators an opportunity to make a connection with our students who are benefitting from their local charter schools.”
Sixth-grader Maanit Patel meets with state lawmaker Ranjeev Puri after his speech at Charter Day.
The living wax museum was just one of the many activities at Charter Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the impact of charter schools in Michigan. The event provided a direct connection to lawmakers in Lansing and showcased the great work done in charter schools across the state.
“I was incredibly proud of each of our students who represented Canton Charter Academy and their local political figures,” Conley said. “I’m also proud they were able to interact with these political figures in a positive way.”
Maanit Patel (right) is introduced before he represents Ranjeev Puri for the living wax museum at Charter Day.
Great job, Cizar Ben Kalefa, Maanit Patel, and Shyu Ru Choy! Way to represent Canton Charter Academy!
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About Canton Charter Academy
Canton Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Canton, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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