Duo Live Out Mullan’s ‘Giraffe’ Teaching Amanda Hensley, Sydney Charlton Stick Necks Out For Others

Amanda Hensley and Sydney Charlton, third-graders at Mullan Road Elementary, set aside their own Christmas wish lists last week to focus on what other Spokane kids might want.

“We were talking about what toys we wanted,” said 8-year-old Sydney. “And then we talked about how we both had seen on TV that there’s a Toys for Tots shortage, so we decided to collect some toys.”

“Christmas is fun with family and everything,” added Amanda, 9. “But it could be a merrier Christmas if you got toys.”

A week ago Wednesday, they approached teacher Nancy Wilkens with their idea of a class toy drive. Wilkens helped them set up a meeting with Mullan Road Principal Paul Stone to pitch their plan.

“I told them to go for it,” said Stone. “But I wanted it to be their own project and for them to do the work on their own.”

This is a perfect example, he said, of the school’s “giraffe” philosophy.

“We want our students to stick their necks out a little to help others,” he said.

Within the day, and with a little typing assistance from a parent volunteer, the two girls had generated an announcement to be sent home with each student in their class.

“Would you please give your child permission to bring toys that they do not play with anymore?” the neon pink flier asked politely.

“We’ve gotten a very, very nice response,” said Wilkens.

Every morning, Amanda and Sydney collect the toys and update the chart they’ve made to keep tabs on their project. As of Monday, they’d collected 50 toys.

A red-wrapped box in the front of the room is overflowing with still-packaged Barbies, stacks of books, and even a stuffed orange tiger.

The toy target is 75 to 110, the girls told their classmates. Reaching that goal will mean a popcorn party.

The girls plan to drop the toys off at a Toys for Tots station Friday.

“I’m truly impressed,” said Wilkens. “It shows a great deal of compassion for those less fortunate.

“And they’ve been very good about staying with it. They’ve demonstrated a real stick-to-itiveness.”

Ferris junior named best of the best

Andy Rigsby, a junior at Ferris High School, won first place at the Heart of the Northwest debate tournament Dec. 7 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.

Only students who have placed first through third in the senior division of major debate tournaments - or have qualified for state or national competition - are invited. Rigsby was also named the tournament’s second-best speaker.

“It’s a relatively small, elite group of debaters,” said coach George Sparks. “Of course, I always expect it from Andy, but I was still very impressed.”

In addition, this past weekend Rigsby and fellow Ferris junior Dan Rinehart were senior division co-champions at the Greater Spokane finals, which took place at Shadle Park High School.

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MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the South Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a South Side school or about the achievements of South Side students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Deadline is Monday. Write: Amy Scribner, Education Notebook, South Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mail: amys@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5439. Fax: 459-5482.