Students have last laugh

Orchard Center Elementary Principal Travis Peterson had a difficult week. On Monday a student threw a pie in his face. On Friday he had to spend the school day up on the roof.

But Peterson didn’t mind any of that. The pie and “principal on the roof” were rewards to his students who managed to raise more than $1,500 in a penny drive for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“They went over that mark on the last day,” Peterson said. “They brought in just over $500 on that last day.”

Peterson called an assembly Monday to announce the results and accept his pie in the face. During the drive, kids also earned extra recess time and a popcorn party. Peterson’s promise to spend a day on the roof – rain or shine – became reality when the students hit the $1,000 mark.

The school has done the drive for four years and raised $500 the first year. “Every year since then we’ve increased that number,” he said. “We’re pretty proud of them. They did a good job.”

March of Dimes

The Central Valley Future Business Leaders of America just wrapped up a penny drive at Central Valley High School to benefit the March of Dimes. The annual event is a competition among fourth-period classes.

The drive raised $1,695. Eric Akins’ class was the top contributor with $699 and won a pizza party. The second-place class trailed behind at $363. Over the past 15 years the school has raised a total of $26,991 for March of Dimes.

Art competition results

Local high schools recently competed in the ESD 101 Art Competition, which is a precursor to the OSPI All-State Art Competition. Students who won first place will advance to state. Cash prizes were also awarded.

East Valley High School: Maikia Xiong, ESD 101 superintendent’s choice, color pastel; Kaylee Jamison, first place, black and white pastel; Kacie Sheldon, first place and judge’s choice, graphite; Jade Charbonneau, first place, pastel (black, white and gray); Lindsey Wells, first place and two judge’s choice awards, pastel; Julie Storrs, first place, pastel; Ariel Erickson, first place, pastel; Jenie Smasne, first place, color pastel; Diana Matveyeva, platinum award, color pastel; Jenna Brown, platinum award and judge’s choice, color pastel; Samual Schierman, platinum award, prisma color pencil; Destiny Jaeger, second place, judge’s choice and Avista choice, black, white and gray pastel; Parker Pierce, third place, graphite; and Annie Burrow, third place, black and white pastel.

Central Valley High School: Ronald Birch, first place, watercolor painted pendant necklace with copper foil; and Molly Eyers, third place, watercolor painted necklace.

Essay contest winners

Two East Valley Middle School students received awards in the recent Veterans of Foreign Wars Pen Essay Contest. The competition was open to all eighth-graders in the Valley and was sponsored by VFW Post 1435. Savannah Robledo took first place and Kendra Morscheck took third place.

Morscheck’s essay was also entered into a statewide competition, where she took first place in the eighth-grade level.

Committee members sought

The Central Valley School District is looking for community members to serve on a new Capital Facilities Planning Committee. The advisory committee will be tasked with developing a six-year capital facilities plan for the district.

Applications are available online at www.cvsd.org or at the district office at 19307 E. Cataldo. Applications are due by April 10. Call (509) 228-5410 for more information.