These Students Don’T Mind Messing With Brains, Skulls

If God had followed Sue Fischer’s directions, we all might have duct tape holding our heads together.

As it was, Fischer’s directions applied only to a bright group of third-graders from West Valley schools who were assigned to create skulls.

Their creations were supposed to protect a slimy and smelly mashed-potato-and-sand combination that was each student’s “brain.”

“Only use things you can find around the house. You can’t buy anything special,” Fischer told the students. The exercise was the start of a unit on the brain for students in PACE, West Valley’s program for gifted children.

The skulls underwent special testing on Monday. Dropped into a plastic wading pool from about eight feet up, the skulls and brains thunked and thudded ominously. Then their owners inspected their work for fractures, oozes and other disasters. Most suffered some sort of injury.

So, how do you make a serviceable skull?

Duct tape was a favorite. As were styrofoam peanuts, plastic bubble wrap and plain old cardboard boxes.

A carved-out foam box, custom fit inside a cardboard box was Tamara Burgess’ secret weapon.

“It’s hard to do unless there’s an engineer in the house,” Tamara explained.

Megan Weddle, whose father, Craig Weddle, obligingly dropped skull after skull out in front of Seth Woodard School, counted on “bubble things” to keep her brain safe.

Steve Foster went high-tech, with two bike helmets and three knee pads in his skull. Why three knee pads?

“Because I have three brothers,” he said.

Papier mache was the plan for Sara von Muller.

But perhaps the oddest looking skull was built out of a few segments of a strand of chain link, wrapped in duct tape, then covered with a sock and decorated like a face. That tough little head belonged to Zarabeth Palms.

“After you determine the state of your brain,” advised Fischer, “be sure to put it in the trash.”

The grimy goo was stinky.

“Did anybody learn anything?” Fischer asked.

“That a skull has to be very hard,” said Samantha Peterman.

Amen.

National Merit honors

National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists and commended students include several seniors from across the Valley.

Kjersti Gemar of Central Valley High School, Joshua Davey of University High School and David Sunderland of East Valley High School are semi-finalists.

Commended students from the Spokane Valley include the following: Todd Engstrom, David Manz and Justin Padley, all of whom attend Gonzaga Prep; Melissa Berube, Valerie Fuchs, Amy Nebeker and Rachel Zack of U-Hi; Kasey Graham and Elham Simmons of Central Valley High; Amanda Bundy, Tiffany Claridge and Charlyn Johnson of East Valley High.

Melissa Scherr of West Valley High School won honorable mention in the National Hispanic Recognition Program, sponsored by The College Board.

Scherr qualified through her performance on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

The National Merit Scholarship test is taken by 1.2 million students in 20,000 high schools across the country.

About 15,500 students are honored as semi-finalists and may continue in competition for about 7,600 scholarships to be offered in the spring.

Technology walkers, unite

Students at University Elementary School are seeking pledges to raise money through the school’s third annual Technology Walk. The event is on Saturday at University High School’s track. The grade school’s goal is to equip each classroom with a computer on which students can use the internet.