Students Turn Off TVs In Study
Cody Henderson misses his TV. The 7-year-old Windsor Elementary student usually has a steady diet of Nickelodeon and Disney. But this week is TV-Turnoff Week, and Windsor takes this week very seriously.
Eleven Windsor classrooms have “buried” their TVs by unplugging the things and moving them into the hallway. Kids cover the TV with a strip of paper every time they read a book.
In addition, three Windsor teachers are taking part in a national study on the effects of turning off the TV.
TV-Free America oversees the project, which measures student attitudes toward television before and after a six-week period of no TV. Two other schools across the nation are also participating.
Eastern Washington University recreation professor Barb Brock, who has two students at Windsor, brought the TV-burying program to the school. Her family has been TV-free for 15 years.
An EWU graduate student is overseeing the project at Windsor, where families fill out “time diaries” that reflect what they did instead of watching TV, how much time they spent reading and if they visited a library or bookstore during the six weeks.
Second-grade teacher Donna Day has taken the project even further. Her students already detail their reactions to books in daily journal entries. During TV-Turnoff Week, they’re also meeting in small groups to recommend or pan books and to read their favorite parts to classmates.
Even though he longs for his favorite shows, being TV free has been easier than expected for Cody.
He’s already stuck 10 strips of paper to the TV outside his classroom.
“We’ve been trying to watch less TV gradually so it’s easier,” said Day.
“When you watch TV, you don’t really have to think,” explained Andrew Edwards, 7. “With books you have to think about the sounds and the words.”
Burying the TV is a cinch for John Russell, 8. He knocked off 207 books last summer.
John’s already read several books, including one in which a young boy turns everything he touches to chocolate.
“I wrote in my journal that I felt sorry for him,” said John. “That’s not very healthy for him.”
Liberty looks at raising lunch price
The Liberty School Board will consider raising elementary school lunch prices for the second year in a row at tonight’s meeting.
The board will look at raising the elementary lunch from $1.30 to $1.35 next fall.
The price was hiked a nickel last year. Junior high lunches also were raised from $1.50 to $1.60.
The district compares its own prices with state averages and with other local school districts to determine if its prices are fair.
“We found our elementary prices are a little bit lower than both state and local district averages,” said district business manager Sharon Mix.
Raising the elementary price would generate an extra $750 a year. That money would go back into the school lunch program.
The district has felt the effects of increased food prices - especially produce - and more stringent federal dietary guidelines in recent years, Mix said.
Liberty serves about 330 lunches each day and about 67 breakfasts.
LC parents hold weekend’s worth of fund-raisers
Parents of Lewis and Clark High School students have organized a busy weekend of fund-raisers to support student activities.
“Get Ready for Spring” is the theme for the weekend, which includes:
Garage sale, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 2021 and 2006 S. Adams. The goodies include furniture, sporting equipment, small appliances and other household items.
Plant and garden sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the LC courtyard, 521 W. Fourth. A variety of annuals, perennials, bushes and hanging plants will be on sale, in addition to flats, single plants and yard art.
Arts and crafts sale, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in the LC fieldhouse. This sale benefits LC’s instrumental music program.
Cataldo holds dinner and auction
A baseball signed by Joe DiMaggio and a boathouse party are two of the items up for bid at Cataldo Catholic School’s eight annual dinner/auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Gonzaga Preparatory School gym.
Reservations for the event are available through the school office at 624-8759. Cost is $27.50 per person.
Other items to be offered include a basketball signed by the Gonzaga University Bulldogs and a package from the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Special education open house tonight
Families who want to know more about Spokane School District special education services can attend an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Special Education Assessment Center, 3102 E. Trent.
Special education staff and members of the district Special Education Advisory committee will be on hand to share information and answer questions. Tours of the facility will be offered.