Visits From Holy Family Executive A Treat For Kids

In his rumbling late-night radio voice, Holy Family Hospital executive Joe O’Shaughnessy turns “Old Henry” into gospel for his second-grade audience.

“We don’t have to make a terrible fuss because everyone is not like us,” said Shaughnessy, cocking an eyebrow at Ginny Gould’s class.

“Noooooo,” they say, shaking their heads in chorus.

“You wouldn’t want to do that,” he says.

“Nuh-uh,” they chant back, still as mice on the reading carpet.

Shaughnessy’s weekly visits to “his kids” are a treat for Gould’s Lidgerwood second-graders. In his best bedtime-story voice, he turns children’s literature into theater.

“I like Frog & Toad books because he does all the voices,” said Nick Cornelius, 7.

“He reads funny stories and tells funny jokes,” said Ricco Golden, 7.

The 51-year-old director of Holy Family’s charitable arm says the sessions are good therapy. “It’s a nice reality check,” said Shaughnessy. “Just seeing their faces, it’s great.”

With his grin and theatrics, Shaughnessy seems like a seven-year-old’s dream baby sitter. He blends with the Snoopy bulletin board and the pumpkin calendar.

He knows he may be the only man in some of the children’s lives.

“I’m a single parent, so I know how important it is to have a male there,” said Shaughnessy.

“He is very kid-friendly,” said Gould.

Shaughnessy got to know Gould’s class last year in weekly meetings. He brought in his two huge poodles to class, took the kids to ice cream at the hospital, challenged them to raise $50 for the Miracle Network.

They bought him a birthday present and generally adored him.

“By the end of the year, they were very, very attached to him,” said Gould.

This class already seems fixed to his lapels. One morning earlier this week, they wanted medical advice, or at least someone to listen to their gruesome health stories.

“My grandpa has been in your hospital,” said Cassie Davis, 7. “He had blood clots.”

“My grandpa, he stopped breathing,” said another.

“Not breathing is very bad,” said Shaughnessy. “I want you all to breath every day.”

‘Follies’ a slice of cheese

Ferris High has Ham on Regal. Rogers is adding a slice of cheese.

Parents and staff are putting on “Jolly Rogers Follies,” a political satire that its creators say will be an equal-opportunity farce.

“If we miss any candidate, we’ll apologize,” said Steve Whitford, father of a junior.

Among the characters will be Willie Goat, Fannie Fibber and Dross Parrot. “He quits half-way through,” said Whitford, who plays the character.

True to the strong Rogers pride, the hero will be a common man Hillyard man.

Rogers administrator Maury Paul and English teacher Sandra MacQuinn will join the cast.

The play runs Oct. 17-19 at Rogers, 1622 E. Wellseley. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.

Apple openings at Logan

The Logan Elementary Apple program has rare vacancies.

Education of Apple students is a partnership between teachers and parents. Parents help with teaching, and are required to spend 90 hours in the classroom during the year.

There is room for seven students in the 5th-6th combination class.

“I really don’t understand” the vacancies, said parent Katie Hern. “Maybe the 90 hours scares some away.

Teacher Liz Krise loves having the parents in the class, and says students get a better education because they are there.

“You can’t be trained in everything,” said Krise. “We have so many bright, talented, creative parents, and we’d be crazy not to use them.”

Because of the extra hands, the class takes more field trips. One parent is teaching students German. Another is helping kids make a yearbook.

“It’s easier on Miss Krise, and sometimes it’s easier on us,” said Jonathan Barnett, 11. “Parents will correct our stuff and everything.”

Call the school at 353-4500 for more information. You don’t have to live in Logan’s attendance area to be eligible for the program.

National Merit semi-finalists

North Central seniors Mayalisa Anderson and Rache Stotts-Johnson have been named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

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MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the North Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a North Side school or about the achievements of North Side students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Deadline is Monday. Write: Jonathan Martin, Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.