Grant Students Train Energy On Junior Bloomsday

Determination governed the faces of the young runners who gathered before school Tuesday in the gym at Grant Elementary.

Many of their parents just looked sleepy.

“My son pretty much pulled me into doing this,” said Ovidio Salazar, whose 7-year-old son, Steven Salazar, is training for his first Junior Bloomsday.

For some young runners, part of the prerace training routine involves getting Mom or Dad up and at ‘em at an early hour.

The senior Salazar, who gets off work at 2 a.m., is making a special effort to get up at 7 a.m. so he can attend his son’s 8 a.m. practices.

“It’ll get easier - I hope,” he said, a smile creeping across his face.

Some parents, prompted by their exuberant progeny, vowed to be at the gym every day until the big-little race, Junior Bloomsday, scheduled for April 12.

“I’ll be here every morning with a smile on my face,” said Margaret Goetz, whose 9-year-old daughter, Janelle Goetz, plans to run. “It’ll be a fake one, but it’ll be there.”

Grant’s first-, second- and third-graders began training for the race Tuesday with Jerry Numbers, physical education teacher, and Sherry Byrne, first-grade teacher.

A few old pros were on hand to help coach those new to the event. Fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders who turned out for their first practice Monday were back again Tuesday to lead younger runners through warm-up exercises.

More than 40 students turned out for the first day of practice.

Numbers expects the turnout to decline in the next six weeks, but in the beginning the rumble of little feet hitting the boards kept six yawning parents awake.

Steven Salazar, decked out in a blue running suit, circled the gym with a crowd of whooping, cheering kids.

“I wish I had that much energy,” his father said.

Second-grader Desira Allen , 8, is already a veteran runner. This will be her second Junior Bloomsday, and with the new training season comes a new strategy: Pick up the tempo.

“I’m going to try to run really fast this year,” Desira said.

At the end of the hourlong practice, Numbers and Byrne praised the students’ stamina.

“Don’t we have some enthusiastic kids?” Byrne said.

The same could be said for the parents.

Ovidio Salazar sat on a bench watching his son and the rest of the kids work out.

“But he said he would try to participate with the kids,” Numbers said. “Give him a day or two to work up to it.”

Cheney choir fund-raiser

Cheney High School’s choir will hold its fourth annual dessert auction and concert, “Delicious Decadence, Music and the Magic Kingdom,” Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.

Between bites during the three-hour event, the 40-member choir will perform Disney tunes from such films as “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Pocahontas,” said Debbie Fockler, choir supporter.

The choir is hoping to raise enough money to visit Disneyland and perform there in the spring.

“They’ll have the chance to work with Disney choreographers and conductors,” Fockler said.

The choir is asking for a $2 donation from each person attending the event. Participants can buy individual desserts or wrangle for gourmet desserts to be auctioned to the highest bidders.

Reservations for groups of eight or more are recommended.

To make a reservation, call Carolyn Chacon at 456-5836. Tickets for individuals will be sold at the door.

Chase students honored

More than 300 Chase Middle School students - almost one-third of the student body - were honored at an evening assembly last Thursday.

Students with perfect attendance and no tardies or those with a grade-point average of 3.5 or above received T-shirts, pizza coupons and candy.

“Some students even made both (lists),” said Assistant Principal Judi Hopkins.

More than 600 parents, grandparents and relatives crowded into the gym to honor the students.

, DataTimes MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the South Side Voice. Please let us know about interesting programs and activities, and the achievements of students, teachers, administrators, staff and volunteers at schools on Spokane’s South Side and in Cheney, Medical Lake and the Liberty School District. Contact Janice Podsada, South Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210 E-mail: janicep@spokesman.com Or call: 459-5439 Fax: 459-5482