Star party planned Tuesday for EV students
Weather permitting, East Valley students hope to gaze at the stars next week.
A “Star Party” is scheduled Tuesday with the Spokane Astronomical Society at East Valley High School for seventh- and ninth-graders who are studying astronomy as part of their science curriculum.
Georgi Delgadillo, the East Valley district’s Science T.O.S.A. (Teacher of Special Assignment), planned the viewing with the Spokane Astronomical Society. Wednesday is a backup night if cloudy or inclement weather appears Tuesday.
“We’ll look at the moon, and Saturn and Jupiter should be up,” said Delgadillo about some of the attractions of winter skies. “There’s a meteor shower taking place that week.
“Some of the telescopes out there are strong enough to pick up galaxies and nebulas. We’re hoping the weather cooperates so we can be out there. This time of year we don’t always get clear nights.”
Delgadillo said the viewing for students will go from 6 to 8 p.m. in an open house format, with the telescopes set up near Sullivan Road just west of the high school at 15711 E. Wellesley Ave.
Delgadillo has worked with the Jet Propulsion Labs in California and with NASA over the past five years. As a T.O.S.A., she currently works within the entire East Valley School District assisting with science.
The Spokane Astronomical Society is a nonprofit group dedicated to amateur astronomy and sharing knowledge with others, said Debbie Cotten, the organization’s vice president.
“We do this for schools that request it for when their students are studying astronomy or have an interest,” Cotten added. “Sometimes, we’re invited to science fairs.”
For more information on the Spokane Astronomical Society, call Cotten 458-7632 or check the Web site www.spokaneastronomical.org.
Coin drive will aid Bangladesh hospital
More than $300 collected through a coin drive at Mountain View Middle School will benefit a Bangladesh hospital.
The coin drive ended this week, headed up by students in the alternative program called Road to Success, taught by Marcy Williams. About 12 students in the class gave presentations explaining the program and kept track of donations. Parents also volunteered.
“The kids are very excited to do a global project,” Williams said.
Mountain View school counselor Carla Bagby is leaving this weekend for Bangladesh and she will present a check from the donations to Nalta Hospital, which serves a region with 5 million people.
The hospital is the only nongovernment hospital in the country and was built due to a generous donation by Bagby’s father-in-law, Dr. George Bagby.
76 at Adams earn Character awards
Character counts at Adams Elementary. Every two months, a group of children are given Character Counts awards for displaying such qualities as respect, citizenship, responsibility, fairness, caring and trustworthiness.
On Tuesday, 76 students will get their Character Counts awards at the school, which is also in the middle of a food drive to benefit the food bank.