Nova teacher Gary Cramton started a relationship between water program officials and Nova students last year. The students went on a field trip to Vasona Lake, where they learned about creeks, reservoirs, water quality and pollution, according to Steve Lopez, the school district's director of educational services and Nova coordinator. That relationship has expanded though music.

Guedenet and Ulleseit were approached by water program officials with an outdated creek clean-up jingle, sung by park rangers on guitars.

"The original song was supposed to be a rap," Guedenet said. "But it didn't fly for the students."

Guedenet and Ulleseit used the original song/poem from Kathy Machado, with Santa Clara Valley Water District's education program, as background research for their own version. The rappers thought the song needed a more modern, controversial approach to impact students. They created their own approximately 2-minute song, 'Watershed Rap,' which will benefit education divisions of the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the West Valley Clean Water Program.

"It's promoting a good message, but we threw in our own style," Ulleseit said.

The lyrics have a strong connection to cleaning up creeks and streets and preventing pollution, with a contemporary beat. For example: "Be careful where you're dumping the old laundry soap, before it ends up in the river sending fish afloat."

The song was produced without musical instruments on a digital synthesizer/recorder and electronic equipment that produces more than 500 different sounds. The final effect, after more than a month of work, is realistic backing tracks rather than computer-generated sound, Guedenet said.

The two rappers are going to be presenting their song as an accompaniment with an MTV-style music video to local high school and middle school students.

"I'm very proud of them," said Cindy Ranii, the school district's superintendent. "It's a beautiful partnership, and great service learning at it's best."

Cheri Donnelly, program manager with the water program, said the song hits home because areas around schools are hot spots for trash, including beverage cans and cigarette butts.

"We had a philosophy of trying to reach the community through students," said Donnelly. "The rap totally exceeded my expectations."

Jack Lovell, stormwater discharge inspector with the water program, said the rap is inspirational. It strikes a chord with students on their level through their kind of music.

"We wouldn't have written the song unless we actually believed it," said Guedenet, who has overcome a drug problem, which is reflected in other rap songs he's produced. "With our music, we try to put out a message and try to promote something of good cause."

After he graduates from high school this June, Guedenet plans to attend Cogswell College, a polytechnical school in Sunnyvale known for its music program. He's hoping to go into music theory and the digital recording/production industry.

The two rappers were trained in technical aspects of music theory and production by Nova teacher Vincent Flores. Flores brought a variety of types of music into his media production class. He taught his students, including Guedenet and Ulleseit, the basics of how to use the recording equipment and software, and how to transfer music onto a CD.

While a room at the school district's office has been transformed into a production studio, it could use technological improvements, Flores said, who is also a performing musician and uses technology to make music.

"We could use a little money to get more things in there that would really give us a full-blown recording studio," he said.

He said the Nova program is seeking donations from the community for the music production studio. The studio is something the students are passionate about, and it keeps them engaged in learning.

"It keeps them focused and wanting to come to school," he said. "When I was in high school in the late '60s, there were places for kids who were not necessarily interested in math, science and those kinds of things," Flores said. "There was woodshop and metalshop and places where kids who had interests in other areas could make school worth coming to, and we seem to have gotten away from that an awful lot."

Flores said students are in the Nova program because they may not necessarily fit into a public high school. They need to have different avenues to learn, while staying interested in their other classes. Even though he doesn't listen to rap and his students may not all turn into famous rap stars, Flores said they have the energy and drive to be successful in different ways.

"I wish we could get back more to these kinds of programs where kids can have a real sense of belonging," Flores said. "There's nothing wrong with being a music/sound designer or recorder."

For more information about the Nova program or to contribute to the music production studio, call Steve Lopez at 408.354.2520, ext. 326.