Education notebook: Area schools win state achievement awards

Several area schools recently earned Washington Achievement Awards for being among the highest performing schools in the state based on three years of academic information.

The award-winning schools are: Central Valley High School, Opportunity Elementary, Summit School, Freeman High School, Liberty High School, Shiloh Hills Elementary, Hallett Elementary, Medical Lake High School, Reardan Elementary, Adams Elementary, Cooper Elementary, Libby Center, Sacajawea Middle School, Wilson Elementary and West Valley High School.

Schools are recognized for being top performers in the following categories: overall excellence, high progress, reading growth, math growth, extended graduation rate (awarded to high and comprehensive schools only) and English language acquisition.

Northwest Christian School will hold its first Career Fair on Wednesday.

High school students will be able to talk with representatives from several different fields, including engineering, farming and animation.

The Career Fair is from 8-11 a.m. at the school’s chapel, 5104 E. Bernhill Road, Colbert.

Dog program teaches skills

Eagle Peak School recently kicked off its Pawsitive Works program, in partnership with the Spokane Humane Society. The 15-lesson curriculum helps shelter and rescue dogs learn while teaching students skills such as mindfulness, empathy and self-confidence.

Before interacting with the dogs, students learn about dog body language, safe greeting and treat giving through videos, images and reading lessons.

For more information on Pawsitive Works, contact Co-Founder/Executive Director Karen Schumacher at (208) 946-3883 or karen@ paws itiveworks.com.

West Valley students named 2015 scholars

West Valley High School seniors Grant Gallaher and Kacie Salmon were named 2015 Washington Scholars by the Washington Student Achievement Council.

Scholars are recognized for excellence in academic achievement, leadership and community activities.

G-Prep wins Imagination title

The Gonzaga Prep Destination Imagination team won first place at the Washington State tournament and has, for the second year in a row, qualified to participate in the Global Finals.

Team members are seniors Mitch Kilayko and Marina Marsalis and juniors Daniel Bassler and Drake Zielske.

The team has set up a crowd-funding page, gofundme.com/gprepdi, to raise the $10,000 the trip to the global competition in Knoxville, Tennessee, will cost.

Destination Imagination is a program that encourages students to incorporate STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), the arts and service learning to find a solution to a problem.