Mt. Spokane students hold mock election
Students from Mt. Spokane High School may be the only voters in the region still going to the polls.
For the second year the school organized a mock election, where students learn about issue on the ballots this November, and then cast their votes online or at polls set up once a week at school over a two-week period.
“We try to make them aware of the election issues; what types of things they face and then the voting process,” said teacher Paul Kautzman. “We try to make it as realistic as the voting experience would be for an adult.”
Students who are 18 years old also get help registering to vote, and they receive help understanding their Spokane County absentee ballots.
“They bring them in, ask questions,” Kautzman said.
The mock election is organized through the University of Virginia’s Schools of Politics and focuses not only on local candidates and issues but national issues.
Several candidates were invited to speak with students, and some students volunteered with campaigns to learn more.
The school also made copies of the voter pamphlets for all students and teachers, and students are encouraged to visit the secretary of state Web site.
“The election is student run; they do the announcements, they campaign for their candidates,” Kautzman said. “It’s great because it’s not as mean-spirited as some of the ads out there.”
Student voting will continue through this week, with results posted Friday.
Rogers celebrates the dead
Students from a Rogers High School Spanish class teamed up with students in an art class at the school to celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead this week.
El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated the first two days in November “and typically involves numerous works of art which symbolize and represent the culture’s thoughts concerning death,” said Spanish teacher Lori Orr.
“The students were able to learn about the holiday in an enjoyable, personal way and hopefully better understand the Mexican culture,” Orr said.
The two-day holiday is marked with Mexican customs that include colorful works of art, often used for family reunions at family burial plots. Special foods also are prepared and laid out for the deceased, and celebrations sometimes include fireworks.
The two classes of students – students from Orr’s Spanish class, and students from Tom Pettoello’s art class – came together to create paper skeletons and other colorful works of art that will be displayed in the school through November.
“I have never done anything like this before,” said Susie Palmie, a German foreign exchange student at Rogers. “In Germany, we don’t even celebrate Halloween.”
More from Mt. Spokane
Students from the Mt. Spokane High School DECA club have organized a fundraiser to help an animal rescue group with much-needed surgeries for abandoned animals.
Proceeds from the dinner and live dessert auction will benefit Friends for Life, an animal rescue group that provides surgeries to homeless animals in need and offers assistance to those who adopt the animals after rehabilitation.
The benefit will be Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairwood Animal Hospital, 317 W. Hastings Road.
The event was organized by students Megan Smith, Maddy Copus and Ellen Klawitter. The three DECA students were asked to create a public relations activity for a class project.
The students hope to raise public awareness for the Friends for Life organization and raise funds to help pay for the animal surgeries, which can be very costly.
Shadle plans veterans concert
The Shadle Park High School band program will host a Veterans Day concert for veterans Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the school, 4327 N. Ash. St., in north Spokane. All veterans and community members are invited. Refreshments will be served after the program.