Sense Of Humor Helps At Election Time

Sixth-grader Brooke Baker won election as ASB president at Sunrise Elementary School this week.

She used a lively mixture of humor and a message of responsibility to win the vote from her fellow students.

But I think it was the toothpaste that did it.

Brooke’s skit involved her waking up and getting ready for school, all done with actions by someone else’s arms, reaching around from behind her.

Tondi Sperline’s hands had to brush Brooke’s teeth. The result was way off target. Ditto for the lipstick that came next. Giggles gripped the young audience.

My theory is that Sunrise students backed Brooke because they thought anyone brave - and articulate - enough to go through with the delightfully goofy skit was someone who could represent them well.

“I like to joke around,” Brooke said after the election results were in. “But I am also very responsible.”

Responsible enough to admit that she got the idea for her skit from her father, who had used a similar skit in a college talent show.

And responsible enough to thank her helpers: “Tondi Sperline was my arms. Rabav Nemri was the narrator. They were just excellent to work with.”

The most important job she’ll have, Brooke said, is heading up the student council. “Because you talk about money.”

All nine candidates for office at Sunrise pulled off polished presentations on Monday morning.

Justine King, a fourth-grader who led off the assembly by ducking into a phone booth and emerging in a Super Treasurer cape, ticked off several points: One, I’m responsible. Two, I’m organized. Three, I’m honest.

Fourth-grader Melia Hannibal used the letters of her name to describe her attributes.

“M - marvelous. With me as treasurer, student council would be marvelous,” Melia said.

Student leaders at this young age often crop up as leaders again in high school, said Sunrise Principal Jan Struthers.

“You saw how confident they were,” Struthers said after the speeches. “I’m so impressed with their ability to talk in front of 600 people.”

Sixth-grader Jessie Boltjes was elected treasurer. Katee Nauert, a fifth-grader, is vice president. Other candidates were Justin Wagner and Monica Trantow, both sixth graders; fifth-grader Laura Hoskins; and fourth grader Joe Reese.

Skyview Elementary’s hero

Al Ostrum, custodian at Skyview Elementary School, will be honored on Friday by the Boy Scouts of America for saving two lives, including his son’s, while on a canoe expedition in 1996.

Student’s artwork selected

Martina Soto, an art teacher at Seth Woodard School, and her students last year created Christmas cards to benefit the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.

The artwork by Kari Clemens, now a sixth-grader at Centennial Middle School, has been selected from about 250 entries in the Holiday Card Program, which is run by the non-profit agency. Kari’s Christmas card design will be printed along with two other local designs; she will be honored for her talent in December. For information about purchasing cards, call Erika Schorrig, 922-5482.

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MEMO: The Education Notebook is the spot the Valley Voice devotes to telling our community about the accomplishments of students, teachers and staff at Valley schools, and about learning in classrooms across the Valley. Teachers or parents whose students have earned honors, feel free to toot your horn. Contact Marny Lombard at the Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175. E-mail: MarnyL@spokesman.com