Sheridan students raise money for SpokAnimal
Steven Staebell’s fifth-grade class at Sheridan Elementary School recently learned a lesson in fundraising and civic engagement.
After a talk about civic engagement from an AmeriCorps volunteer, Jodi Pierson, the students in Staebell’s class decided to raise money for SpokAnimal.
They made their own money receptacles for each class at the school and worked through lunchtime to figure out new ways to raise money.
After one week, the kids raised over $400, which will sponsor cages at the animal shelter. The staff at the shelter has promised the students it will take pictures of the individual pets that benefited from their efforts.
Around 78 percent of the students at Sheridan receive free or reduced-price lunches.
Science symposium
Students from around the area will compete Friday at the first Inland Northwest High School Science Symposium at the Riverpoint EWU/WSU campus.
The students have researched a project using scientific methodology, consulted a mentor and will present a 15-minute oral presentation about their projects Friday.
The students have their choice of presenting projects in the biological sciences, physical sciences, or engineering and mathematics.
Scholarships of $50,000 from Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University and Whitworth College will be presented.
Destination ImagiNation winners
A Gonzaga Prep Destination ImagiNation team won first place with a problem-solving project at the state competition held March 31 in Wenatchee.
The team of seven students also won a Renaissance Award for high creativity in design and will be sending one team to the Global Finals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville at the end of May.
Destination ImagiNation is a program that promotes creativity and teamwork through problem-solving. Students compete at the local, regional and national levels by creating a problem and then working to solve it using theatrics and props.
This year, the team, called Round About Courage, created a performance in which a hero must use his or her courage to solve a problem. The theme was based on a medieval band of Irish gypsies who confront a cantankerous town mayor.
The story is played out on a device built by the students and included a gypsy car that transforms into a stage and a machine with levers, weights, pulleys and marbles.
The Gonzaga Prep team includes Brendan Sowers, Daniel Parisot, Jo Kestell, Azalyn Croft, Samantha Uliano, Jennie Drake and Ayana Croft.
This will be the third trip to the global competition for Gonzaga Prep’s teams. The program has been in place at the school for sixteen 16 years with the help of coach and teacher Michael Carroll.
The school has competed in the state competition for 14 years.
In addition to the winners from Gonzaga Prep, students from the Libby Center Odyssey DI team won prizes as well.
Amber Arbanas, Maya Erler, Jazlyn Jacobs, Sara Johnson and Lauren Reid, members of the team, HONK (Hilarious, Outrageous Nerdy Kids), won fifth place for their challenge, CarDIology at the middle school level of competition.
They also received the DaVinci Award for outstanding creativity.
It was the first trip to the competition for the Libby Center students, who are led by team manager Lynne Johnson.
Spokane seniors receive Scholar status
Five Spokane Public Schools high school seniors have been named Washington Scholars for 2007, and two others have been chosen as alternates.
The program recognizes the accomplishments of three seniors in each of the state’s 49 legislative districts. Students receive state scholarships for up to four years of public resident undergraduate tuition and fees at any Washington public or independent college or university.
High school principals nominate the top 1 percent of a school’s graduating senior class based on academic achievement, leadership and community service. A committee of principals and college admissions staffers typically selects four students in each district, naming three as Washington Scholars and one as an alternate.
The 2007 Spokane winners and alternates listed by school are:
Ferris: Trevor Crain, who plans to study aerospace engineering; Lewis and Clark: Jeffrey Burkert, who will study math, and alternate Theodore Newell; North Central: Maggie Capwell, who is undecided about her plans, and alternate Rachel Goossen; Shadle Park: Kramer Ortman, who plans to study pre-med, and Rachel Wagley, who plans to study political science.
Open house for online school planned
Spokane Virtual Learning, Spokane Public Schools’ Web-based project, will host two information sessions for interested students and parents.
The first session is planned for Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry. The second session will be Wednesday, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Shadle Park Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave.
Courses offered through Spokane Virtual Learning are free to students of Spokane schools, and are taught by Spokane teachers. Students from other school districts can also enroll in the courses for a fee.
There are more than 30 courses available.
For more information, visit www.spokanevirtual.com.