Congressional Seating from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

With the presidential campaign getting nasty, we thought it would be appropriate to rerun an earlier episode that featured a simple idea for generating civility between the two major political parties.

Tortured segue of the week: Speaking of parties, visit our Ampolotalk blog to see responses to our request for great party ideas.

We’ll be back next week with a new episode.

A Book for the Ages from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

Friends, we want your feedback. Please comment below: What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you had known when you were younger?

American Idler from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

We are on Spring Break this week..in sunny Illinois and Ohio. Because American Idol is nearing its finale, we thought it appropriate to re-run a related Ampolo episode that originally aired last August.

In the meantime, the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continues with no break (Spring or Summer) in sight. This past week, Sen. Clinton hinted that the two might join together on the Democratic ticket. But the question remains: which one of them would fill which spot? For those of you who missed the Ampolo solution, click here.

A Brilliant Character from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

Last week we offered ideas on educational reform. This week we present a video from the scholars at a school where reform is working: Legacy Charter School in Chicago. Inspired by our alphabet string episode last year, the then-first graders in Margret Pilat’s classroom, wrote and illustrated their own book.

Legacy is an unique and successful experiment in education. It was founded by a law firm, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, which provides financial and management support to the school. The firm’s attorneys and staff are also involved in Legacy and the lives of its students through activities such as tutoring and mentoring.

The elementary school is now in its third year under a remarkable principal, Lisa Kenner, whose “Welcome” statement on the school’s home page summarizes Legacy’s philosophy: “Everyone at Legacy is a lifelong learner. We have the highest expectations of each child, family member, teacher and staff member as we prepare our scholars to be on the path to college and for lives as responsible citizens.”

Our thanks to the law firm (particularly Errol Stone), Lisa Kenner, Margret Pilat, and, most of all, the scholars who created this week’s offering. They are:

Amya B.
Amanda B.
Amarae T.
Alexis J.
Chantell P.
Christopher G.
Diamond M.
Glen P.
Javen T.
Jasmine W.
Ja’kyia D.
Jeremiah P.
Jarayah H.
Katelyn M.
Kyala D.
Landis P.
Michael K.
Malia B.
Nakaree J.
T’nyah G.
Tiffany S.
Tiresias Y.
Tiona W.