Kindergarteners wedded to their letters

Q and U, they belong together, like cake and ice cream or peanut butter and jelly. And, on April 15 the letters got married.

Since 2002, the kindergarteners at Dalton Elementary School in the Coeur d’Alene School District have held Q and U weddings, as part of learning their letter combinations. This year’s celebration not only included the wedding ceremony, but wedding invitations, and a wedding shower for the letters, where students were asked to bring something from home that began with ‘qu’ and wrap it up for the shower.

Dalton kindergarten teacher, Carly Holliday said the kids dress in their Sunday best and make up a full wedding party, with a groom, ‘Q’, and a bride, ‘U.’ The wedding took place in the chapel, a.k.a. the multipurpose room, and was decorated to the nines, with helium balloons and a cake. Principal Glenda Armstrong said the vows, and friends and family were invited to share in the joyous occasion.

David Doughty, the Dalton custodian, has helped decorate the “chapel” since the inception of kindergarten Q and U weddings. “I’ve seen them do it with fountains and arbors, you name it – like it was a real wedding. I just smile because they enjoy it,” he said.

Science teachers win GIANTS grants

Lt. Gov. Brad Little recently recognized Idaho science teachers for their teaching excellence with the 2010 Governor’s Industry Award for Notable Teaching in Science. Each teacher will receive $2,000 for their achievement.

Teachers given the GIANTS award include Edward Katz, the physics, chemistry, and physical science teacher at Bonners Ferry High School and Karlicia Minto Berry, the gifted and talented teacher at Ponderosa Elementary School in Post Falls.

Honorable mention included Dennis Kimberling of Lakeland Junior High School in Rathdrum. He received $500.