Lutheran School Kids Send Supplies To Students In Brazil

The small white chapel, usually serene, was bursting with excited Spokane Lutheran School students last week, anxious to share their faith with students in Brazil.

“We’re much noisier today than we usually are,” said Principal Dave Dybwad.

For 10 weeks, preschool through eighth graders have been collecting school supplies - pencils, crayons, notebooks and scissors - to send to the students they’ve never met.

The school-supply packing is part of the national “By Kids, For Kids” project. The boxes will join thousands of others aboard the Orphan Grain Train, a Lutheran ministry that brings food, medicine and supplies to needy people around the world.

The supplies are shipped overseas and distributed by Grain Train managers and volunteers in those countries.

Last year, nearly 31,000 lovingly packed boxes of school supplies were sent to students in Russia.

In Spokane last week, the children, who attend school at Mukogawa Ft. Wright, were finally ready to begin packing the boxes.

Children circled the outside of the chapel pews, stopping at each station to add supplies and small toys to their boxes. On top of it all went a letter written by each child and their picture.

“I asked what kind of sports they play. I like basketball and I drew a picture of a basketball hoop,” said Mindy DeLaunay, a fifth grader.

“What’s the most important thing we put in the box?” Dybwad asked the students.

“Love,” some answered.

“The message that Jesus loves you,” answered others.

Included in each box is the story of Jesus written in Portuguese, the language of the children who will receive them.

Sixth-grader Dave Peters lays the slim paper book on top of the other items in the box.

“I think the kids will use the school things and play with the small toys,” he said, “but the most important thing is the book and that they learn about Jesus’ life.”

Rogers students have solutions

Rogers High students will present their solutions to problems such as drunk driving and teen pregnancy tonight to a panel of Rogers alumni and special guests.

Teacher Steve Allen’s freshman honors English have worked in small groups to unravel complex problems. They will be judged by invited guests, including Spokane schools superintendent Gary Livingston.

As could be expected, the solutions are broad. Underage drunk driving could be solved, some students said, by suspending licenses or banning offenders from extra-curricular sports.

The solutions will also be presented to the Spokane City Council on April 16.

The school presentation will be at Rogers at 7 tonight. Call Allen at 353-4540 for more information.

More honors for “Treasure Chest”

For the second year in a row, the Rogers High “Treasure Chest” was the only Washington yearbook to be honored by Columbia University.

After winning a gold crown last year, the 1996 “Treasure Chest” won a silver crown. Editor was Mike McLaughlin, advisor was Peter Perkins.

Less than 30 high schools nationally won crown awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association this year, making it the most prestigious honor among high school yearbooks.

It’s ‘Ann Time’

For the last seven months, the suits in Mead have had “Ann time.”

With Sandra Bernhardt’s delivery and Dennis Miller wit, Mead ASB president Ann Ulvin has turned routine school board meetings into stand-up schtick.

At her last meeting last week, Ulvin used billboard props to give her report. The girl’s tennis team? “Super!” The soccer team? “Fabulous!” And how’d they do? “Undefeated!” Why? “Because, well, we’re Mead,” she said with a shrug.

The annual Sadie Hawkin’s dance? “It sucks. Girls have to ask guys.”

Like a kid who lights a roman candle and then runs, Ulvin dashed out of the meeting, leaving administrators and board members laughing. “Got a bad case of senioritis. Gotta go,” she told them.

“We’ll truly miss you, Ann,” said Superintendent Bill Mester.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

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. Deadline is Monday. 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.