CV Schools Put Out Welcome Mat Today

Central Valley schools are inviting the public to come to school today and see what their students are learning.

No special activities are planned. The idea is simply to get folks who don’t ordinarily see today’s schools up close and personal into the buildings, said spokesman Skip Bonuccelli.

“We know we have a lot of people who come to athletic events, to choir and drama and band,” he said. “But we want people to see what happens in schools every day.”

Doors are open today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parents and senior citizens are especially encouraged to visit.

“We’ve got to get the schools’ doors open wider,” Bonuccelli said.

Keep those calls coming

Otis Orchards Elementary and the Spokane Teachers Credit Union have set up a new phone hotline for the school. Parents can call in their child’s absence, check the next day’s lunch menu or learn what events are coming up at Otis.

Starting in March, they’ll be able to check on homework assignments, too.

Called Classroom Companion, the project puts the credit union’s phone lines to work during evenings and weekend hours. Next fall, the hotline will be running districtwide.

, DataTimes MEMO: 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. Phone: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.