Kindergartner Finds Fame After Pun Published
Towheaded kindergartner J.R. Snodgrass already has the celebrity schtick down.
Since getting a joke published in Rosie O’Donnell’s “Kids are Punny” collection, J.R. has signed autographs (for the school secretary) and developed unusual behavior (sleeping with the book).
“We got his autograph because now he’s famous,” said Lake Spokane Elementary secretary Phyllis Schaffer.
The winning witticism: “Why did the coach go to the bank? To get his quarter back.”
He probably borrowed it from the Disney channel’s joke hour, which he watches religiously. Ditto for Three Stooges reruns, although they’re often on after his bedtime. His mom, Claire, catches J.R. watching the late-night slapstick with his dad, both of them howling with laughter in the upstairs TV room.
“He’s just at an age when he enjoys telling jokes,” said Claire Snodgrass, J.R.’s mother.
He wants to be an astronaut or artist. He directs his own plays at home.
“He’s quite a kid,” his mother said.
Rogers students win big
Too young to legally drink, Rogers High students Maliaka Schneider, Lisa Chaffee, Orlia Pajimola, Ileaia Evanson and Elizabeth Dahl developed solutions to the community problem of underage drinking and driving.
The group, taught by English teacher Steve Allen, was one of two at Rogers High that was honored with the Citizens League’s To Make a Difference award.
The trio of Jason Moore, Tommy Allen and Jordan Landsiedel analyzed pollution of the Spokane aquifer. Teachers were Peter Perkins, Jeri Giachetti and Aaron Hansen.
Each team won $1,000 - $500 in equipment to the school and $500 split among the team members.
The contest was organized to push students to analyze pressing community problems.
North Side students HOBY winners
Hugh O’Brian Youth award winners are picked for their leadership, brains and ambition. Get a group of them together and forget the “slacker” stereotype.
The following North Side sophomores were selected to attend the HOBY conference at Gonzaga University in June: Riverside’s Christine Berube, Deer Park’s Brad Martin, Lakeside’s Trevor Smith, Rogers’ Sandra Kanan, Shadle’s Marshall Stanton, Gonzaga Prep’s Rachelle Strawther, Mead’s Colin Troy, and North Central’s Melanie Wilson.
Among the topics they’ll hear at the conference: Do the media create news; what to expect of elected officials, tentatively scheduled to be delivered by Gov. Gary Locke; and the challenges facing public education, to be delivered by Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson.
Soccer as incentive
Two hundred fifty Logan and Stevens elementary students are getting free fare to the Spokane Shadow soccer games.
The tickets are intended to be incentive for good grades and attendance for the two Logan neighborhood schools.
Each student will get a pair of tickets for a game at Joe Albi Stadium. Tickets are funded by the Shadow organization and Washington Water Power.
, DataTimes MEMO: 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.