Teachers Put Pumpkins To Work For Lessons On Leadership, Science

Chaunte Wiltse learned a valuable lesson in communications last week.

“When you do something, make sure everybody knows about it, make it fun and give simple directions,” said Wiltse, a 14-year-old North Pines Junior High student.

Wiltse’s challenge was to organize a pumpkin design contest, as a project for leadership class.

Advertising the contest was the hardest, she said. Wiltse labored over two large posters, 150 fliers and prepared blurbs for morning announcements on the school intercom system.

Students entered drawings of their designs. The winners had the weekend to transfer their artwork from paper to pumpkin.

With a few dozen entries, and four fine pumpkins on display at North Pines, Wiltse, and her teacher Carolyn Schafer, consider the contest a success. Members of the leadership class judged the contest.

“We tried not to choose things that were not school-like,” Wiltse said, explaining why the more gruesome entries were passed over.

Winners were: ninth-grader Josh Russell, who carved ‘NPJH,’ ‘Halloween’ and ‘Trick or Treat’ into his pumpkin; eighth-grader Joshua Mayo, who carved a traditional jack-o-lantern; seventh-grader Abram O’Connor, and sixth-grader Blake Payne, who carved a happy pumpkin, complete with light-up eyeballs.

Those great pumpkins

Pumpkins have been showing up in all sorts of classrooms recently.

Kindergartners in Cindy Towers’ class at Trent Elementary School learned about measurement, estimation and the five senses, using pumpkins.

“When we carve the big pumpkin for our class, we cut it open and reach inside - what does it feel like? What does it smell like, look like? We talk about the five senses from the beginning of school until end of October. This is kind of the culmination of everything they’ve learned,” Towers said.

Third-graders in Jan McFarland’s class at Adams Elementary made pumpkin muffins.

Pumpkin math, pumpkin stories, pumpkin painting - you name it.

“Pumpkins are one the greatest integrated learning sources we have - for not very much money,” said Olivia McCarthy, principal at Keystone Elementary School.

Who says Halloween is dead?

At least two schools in the Valley allow elementary students to parade in their Halloween costumes.

First- and second-graders at Adams Elementary parade through the nearby Sullivan Park Care Center. “The kids love it and the residents just think that is so terrific,” said Sue McCollum, Adams reading specialist and principal designee.

At the Millwood School, kindergartners and first graders don their costumes and parade through the district administrative office and the nearby Albertson’s supermarket.

More commendations

West Valley High School seniors Brian Boothe, Mark Nance, Grace Williams and Lisa Chasse have been named commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

At Central Valley High School, Erfana Dar, Denise Hartley and David Stone are commended students.

Teacher honored by group

Joan Dunham, a teacher in Central Valley School District’s Able Learner program, was named Teacher of the Year last week by the Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted.

Scholars recognized

A dozen 1996 Central Valley High School graduates have been recognized as Advanced Placement scholars.

These individuals scored 3 or higher on three or more AP examinations. AP exams are scored on a five point scale; most colleges and universities give credit for scores of 3 or higher.

The scholars are: Reinyn Bedlington, Anna Bersagel, Charles Booten, Randi Daines, Jacob Fries, Sarah Moen, Megan Neal, Rachel Orme, Sara Routt, Charles Stack.

Curtis Schultz and Todd Sears have been named AP scholars with honors, by earning grades of 3 or above on four or more AP exams, with an average exam grade of at least 3.25.

, 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 at the Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.