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

Education Notebook: Dance team from Mt. Spokane takes 2nd place

Mt. Spokane Dance Team at the Sounds of Thunder Marching Band Competition dressed for their haunted theme routine. Front row: Ashley Birkeland, Corri Budge, Meagan Rydholm, Shaylah Hancock, Whitney Demarest, Olivia Prater, Lexi Mardsen. Middle row: Carley Hancock, Tatum Holestine, Delaney Breazeale, Hannah Smith, Shelby Birkeland, Makayla Stoker, Jennifer Havens. Back row: Lauren Schmitt, Lauren Udlock, Eden Davis, Makenna Bergeson, Emily Simpson, Chloe Smith and Andrea Smith.

The Mt. Spokane High School dance team took second place at the Sounds of Thunder Marching Band Competition at Joe Albi Stadium on Saturday.

The girls, along with the Mt. Spokane Marching Band, performed a haunted theme routine. They were among 10 groups that competed.

Members of the Mt. Spokane dance team are: Ashley Birkeland, Corri Budge, Meagan Rydholm, Shaylah Hancock, Whitney Demarest, Olivia Prater, Lexi Mardsen, Carley Hancock, Tatum Holestine, Delaney Breazeale, Hannah Smith, Shelby Birkeland, Makayla Stoker, Jennifer Havens, Lauren Schmitt, Lauren Udlock, Eden Davis, Makenna Bergeson, Emily Simpson, Chloe Smith, and Andrea Smith.

Shadle Park tackles hunger

Shadle Park High School DECA students will be at the Shadle vs. North Central football game tonight at Joe Albi Stadium to encourage football fans to help fight hunger in the fourth annual Second Harvest’s Tackle Hunger campaign.

The DECA students will be collecting donations of $1 or more in exchange for “I Tackled Hunger” mini-footballs, silicone wristbands, stickers and tattoos. The food bank can make every dollar donated into 6 pounds of food, or approximately five meals, for families in need.

Spokane high schools are competing for the traveling Tackle Hunger trophy, which will be awarded to the school that raises the most money for Second Harvest by the end of the month. Also, the top two winning DECA chapters of the campaign will win scholarships: $1,500 for first and $500 for second, awarded to graduating DECA seniors.

For more information about Shadle’s Tackle Hunger fundraiser, call Erin Ruehl at (509) 354-6787 or email erinr@spokaneschools.org.

Ferris performs band concert

The Ferris High School Music Department will perform its Fall Band Concert on Oct. 28 at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave., at 7 p.m.

The evening will feature music from the Ferris Jazz Band, Jazz Orchestra, Drum Line, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Combined Bands.

Admission is free. For more information, call Ferris band instructor Ben Brueggemeier at (509) 354-6034 or email BenBr@spokaneschools.org.

Finch Principal honored

Kim Harmon has been named the 2013 Dick Stannard Distinguished Elementary Principal of the Year. Harmon, who is principal at Finch Elementary, was recognized as being innovative, articulate and well-respected.

The award is named for a Spokane Public Schools principal who died in 1996 and honors principals who show purposeful leadership, excel at instructional leadership and resource development and possess exemplary interpersonal skills, according to Spokane Public Schools.

Principals are nominated by their peers. Cooper Elementary Principal Rona Williams wrote in her nomination of Harmon, “She is truly an educational leader for all of us; she has helped our assessment department develop spreadsheets used to collect and analyze data at the building levels, she has led work in ways to increase parent involvement, and she has gracefully managed the transition from Finch to two other schools while Finch is being remodeled. Her commitment to her staff and students is second to none.”

Brian Melody, principal at Adams Elementary, wrote in his nomination, “Kim and her staff have had the dual focus of student achievement and preparation for moving out of her school to prepare for renovation. This experience has shown, once again, Kim’s ability to stretch her own capacity as well as those who she leads as she navigates the complexity of this unique experience for students, staff, and families. Parents trust Mrs. Harmon to take care of their children.”

To submit news about your school, students and staff to the Education Notebook, send the details to raineyc@spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5434.