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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Concentration camp subject of play

The Mead High School Theatre Department will perform “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” beginning Tuesday at the school’s Performing Arts Theatre. The performances will run through Friday and will begin at 7 p.m.

The production is based upon the book of the same name, about the children of the Terezin Concentration Camp during World War II.

According to an e-mail provided by Mead drama director Karen Brathovde, a teacher in the story, Irena Synkova, attempts to help the children cope by encouraging them to write poetry and draw their experiences and feelings. She tried to make an almost insufferable situation bearable by creating “school” for the children in the camp. One of Synkova’s students, Raja Englanderova, learns to survive and see the goodness in humanity, despite the cruelty surrounding her.

Much of the poetry and artwork actually created by the children of Terezin will be featured in Mead’s production.

The role of Irena Synkova will be played by senior Elizabeth Noonan and the role of Raja Englanderova will be played by sophomore Katie Miller. Other cast members include: Claire Bouten, Kirsten Clancy, Abby Constable, Stephanie Dawson, Mackenzie Draper, Mike Graves, Cory Groe, Abbie Guillotte, Sophia Hargrave, Alex Kwamina, Katelynn Leavitt, Jackson Marchant, Kristin Michaelis, Kelsey Mix, Olivia Ogino, Taylor Ann Sims, Wraith Snow, Marisa Janke, and Kaitlynn Tisdale. Stage managers for the production are Taylor Poole and Abby Sprenkle.

To prepare for their performance, the cast had the opportunity to meet with a Holocaust survivor, who shared her story. A local rabbi also visited with the students to make sure the wedding and Sabbath dinner scenes are accurately displayed.

Tickets are $6 per person and $5 for students and senior citizens.

To purchase tickets and for more information, call (509) 465-7008.

G-Prep parents plan senior benefit dinner

Parents of the Gonzaga Prep senior class will hold the third annual Italian dinner at the campus Student Center Feb. 20. The doors will open at 4:30 p.m.

The evening will not only include an all-you-can-eat Italian meal, catered by the American Italian Club of Spokane, but the Gonzaga University vs. Pepperdine men’s basketball game will be showing on two large-screen televisions, beginning at 6 p.m.

Gonzaga Prep senior parents started raising funds for a senior party in September, selling concessions at football games. They also have raffled Gonzaga University basketball tickets, sold pies, sold Old World Christmas bullpup ornaments and had 50/50 raffles during basketball games.

Cost is $15 per person. The dinner is a 21 and older event.

Proceeds will benefit the Gonzaga Prep 2010 Senior All Nighter.

To purchase tickets and for more information, call Tony Via at (509) 484-5937.

St. Patrick’s offers dinners during Lenten season

St. Patrick’s Catholic School, 2706 E. Queen Ave., is preparing for the Lenten season with its annual fundraiser “One fish, two fish.”

Fridays during Lent, families are welcome to visit St. Patrick’s cafeteria, from 6 to 8 p.m., for a fish dinner, Feb. 19 through March 26.

A suggested donation is $7.50 per person or $20 per family. Proceeds will benefit the children at St. Patrick’s School.

For more information, call (509) 487-2830 or visit www.stpatrick spokane.com.

Classes offer parents skills to handle at-risk teen behaviors

Ask most teachers and they’ll tell you education begins at home, with good parenting, patience, and consistency. But, it’s not always easy.

Spokane Public Schools is offering “Parenting with Power, Persistence and Patience” classes, each Tuesday and Thursday at North Central High School, 1600 N. Howard St., from 6 to 8 p.m. The classes are free and will provide parents with the information and resources to build relationships with their child/children; how to be an advocate for their child/children; how to address adolescent high-risk behaviors; and how to prevent adolescent substance abuse.

For more information, call Vicki Gorder at (509) 354-7329.

Rainey Coffin can be reached at (509) 927-2166 or via e-mail at raineyc@spokesman.com.