Teens, Seniors Find Common Ground, Dance On It

It was an afternoon for good deeds, tentative dance steps and music from long ago.

“Is it OK if we ask the ladies to dance with us?” asked East Valley High School students Rebecca Gahl and Kelli Haye.

Their advisor, Lynn Lauer, assured them it was, and off the girls scooted to find dance partners old enough to be their grandmothers.

So went the second annual Spring Fling, a dance for senior citizens, organized and attended by nearly 40 students from East Valley and Central Valley high schools. The event was held at Holman Gardens residential care center in the Spokane Valley.

The elder dancers held each other tenderly and moved with a wealth of experience. Some seniors chose to watch, sidelined by lumbago or a cortisone shot or the lack of a familiar partner.

The teenagers sat patiently through the songs and rhythms they didn’t know, waiting for emcee Barry Watkins of KAQQ to play newer tunes.

Wallflowers and all, it’s not every day teenagers put on a dance for senior citizens. Lauer, who organizes the Student Oriented Community Service at EV, said the teens delivered invitations to several retirement homes, scouted a dance floor, baked cookies and worried about what to wear.

“Dress like you’re going to a party where your grandparents will be,” was Lauer’s answer. The kids wore everything from long skirts to blue jean shorts.

Tara Roberts of East Valley, Jen Svelmoe and Melissa Sherwood of Central Valley headed up the organizers.

Summer school info

Central Valley and East Valley both have summer school information ready.

Central Valley’s summer school runs June 24-July 26. Tuition ranges from $30 to $115, depending on the program. Signup deadline is June 17. Programs include academic, exploratory camps and sports camps.

East Valley’s summer session starts June 24. Tuition ranges from $35 to $80, or $100 for driver’s ed. Summer school will be available at all eight schools. Specialized programs include music and athletics camps.

Ponderosa postmark

Fifth-grader Eric Steever at Ponderosa Elementary School designed a winning Earth Day stamp.

Eric’s design incorporates Myrtle the Turtle, a favorite cartoon character of his, the world and a brush - the better to clean up our planet.

His cancellation stamp was developed as part of a schoolwide mail program, Wee Deliver. It was recognized Monday by the Spokane postmaster as one of several official national Earth Day cancellation stamps.

Teacher Marilyn Mraz said she and her students have learned a lot from their own in-school mail system - including how the post office really wants mail addressed. All caps, no commas, no periods. It’s easier for their scanners to read, that way.

Odyssey victory for EV

The Odyssey of the Mind team from East Valley Planned Enrichment Program cruised its way through state competition last weekend in Yakima and won its division.

Grade school students Jennifer Daniels, Kim Anderson, Adam Fife, all of Skyview Elementary; Ken Zachow and Julia Hawker of Otis Orchards and Matt Johnston of Trent Elementary, will go on to world finals in Ames, Iowa, under guidance of PEP teacher and veteran OM coach, Jim Nelson.

Teams from Greenacres Junior High and Central Valley Able Learners each won third place in their respective divisions.

Zero tolerance

Community meetings to review a draft of the kindergarten-12th grade zero tolerance student discipline model will be held tonight at Greenacres and Horizon junior highs. The meetings start at 7 p.m.

Give a little, help a lot

Your cast-off items, dropped off this week at either Otis Orchards or Trent elementary schools, would help a good cause.

Brian Weiler, a custodian for almost 10 years at Otis Orchards and now at Trent, has colon cancer.

His friends and family are holding a rummage sale Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., to help with Weiler’s medical bills. The sale will be held at Otis Orchards.

Weiler, 34, has a good prognosis, his wife said.

Good minds, good hearts

The following students from East Valley High School were inducted into the National Honor Society last week:

AnnMarie Adams, Gary Adamson, Erinn Auclair, Sara Bartlett, Kevin Boden, Jaynee Boisen, Adam Brower, Kelli Buchanan, Katy Cabbage, Christiana Casey, Jessica Conard, Melannye Conger, Jill Conner, Bradley Crockett, Joanna Ekenes, Rebecca Ekenes, Carrie Eller, Sara Emami, Anna Ettenger.

Tristi Forsberg, Rebecca Gahl, Sonia Galaviz, Deanna Hatch, Staci Haye, Anita Heaton, Trina Henderson, Jennifer Kann, Alicia Kingman, Steve Koonce, Allison Lancaster, Alicia Liljenberg, Levi Mattoon, Erika Marx, Catie Meier, Tessa Neal.

Rob Olson, Melinda Palanuik, Jennifer Pemberton, Angela Plumb, Bobbi Reed, Trevor Schmidt, Sara Serbell, John Shogren, Jody Simpson, Brent Standridge, Sandra Terry, Hao-Tam Tran, Beth Wade, Emily Willmschen, Audriana Wise and Kevin Woolf.

Members were selected by their standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the Valley Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a Valley school or about the achievements of Valley students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Write: Education Notebook, Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.