Garfield Students Getting Into Spirit Of The Season

Assigned to make a nutcracker, Garfield Elementary third-grader Anna Acosta took the pragmatic approach - she turned in a hammer.

Simone Phillips, a first grader, made a nutcracker worth cracking, covering it with nuts. Her nutcracker had cashews for ears and walnuts around the brim of the hat.

Kindergartner Elise Endresz’s nutcracker is worth treasuring. Peppermint candy arms poke out of a red and black licorice jacket; a red rope mouth grins beneath gumdrop eyes.

Her classmate, Griffin Shelley, made a construction-paper nutcracker in honor of Native Americans who helped the first European settlers.

“I have very talented children,” said Garfield kindergarten teacher Beth Calkins, who coordinated the all-school project.

The point of the activity, Calkins said, was to let parents help their children with school work. Second grader Madison Bennett’s family got very involved, painting a Rat King and Christmas tree on a canvas that was attached to a three-foot, crepe paper nutcracker.

The nutcrackers will be on display at the Spokane Teacher’s Credit Union, 106 W. Nora, until January.

St. Patrick’s helps needy

St. Patrick’s School will present residents of the Delaney Apartments, subsidized housing for low-income and elderly persons, with hygiene kits on Friday.

St. Patrick’s students have been collecting combs, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, soap, wash clothes and shampoo since September for the kids.

The school is still looking for donations of toothbrushes and toothpaste. To donate, call Gail at 487-2830.

‘Tis the season for concerts

‘Tis the season to sing and boggie. Here’s a short run-down of the remaining Christmas concerts and dances:

Chattaroy Elementary Christmas concerts are Dec. 20. Kindergarten, first and second grades will at 10:30 a.m. and third, fourth and fifth grades at 1:30 p.m.

Midway Elementary Christmas concert for grades 1, 3 and 5 will be Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.

Lakeside High School Winterfest dance will be Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.

Salk students raise $9,000

Dean Rogers, Briana Main and other Salk Middle School students last week handed Jill Schliebe, mother of the four boys killed in a house fire last month, a $9,000 check raised from the sale of school calendars.

Jan Foland, the art teacher who coordinated the calendar sales, has organized a thank-you lunch for the 35 local businesses who contributed money or services for the calendars.

Contact Foland at 353-4450 for more information.

Woodridge students share cents

The little red wagon Woodridge Elementary students will tug on Friday is a bit more precious than normal.

Students will pour the thousands of pennies they have been collecting since Thanksgiving into the wagon and present the money to a representative of the Tree of Sharing, a NorthTown Mall holiday giving program.

Teacher Peggy Gretsch said the students had raised about $200, but “it’s been too heavy to move.” Donations will be accepted until Dec. 15.

To donate, call Gretsch or principal Denise Sandbo at 353-5304.

Mead bus drivers collecting food

The Mead transportation department is holding a one-day food drive Dec. 16 for needy Mead students and their families.

A Mead school bus driver and district bus drivers will be in the Wandermere Albertson’s parking lot, at the intersection of North Divison and Hastings Road, on Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to dusk.

For information, call Leroy Hershiser at 466-5606.

Rogers musicians honored

Three Rogers High School students received musical honors last week. Senior Chris Knight was named to the all-state honors jazz band, junior Karly Sands made the all-state honors band and junior Anne Courtney was tapped for the all-state choir.

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MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the North Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a North Side school or about the achievements of North Side students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Write: Jonathan Martin, Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.