Cheney Students Brief Locke On Mediation Program
Gov. Gary Locke was at Cheney Middle School April 20 to learn about its peer mediation program. His visit was part of a tour of Washington schools to mark the one-year anniversary of the Columbine tragedy.
The visit was the governor’s first official trip to Cheney.
Locke visited with the school’s team of student mediators from the Peer Mediation Program. The seventh- and eighth-graders are specially trained at Eastern Washington University to negotiate resolutions between squabbling students.
The program works like this: When two students get into an argument, they can sign up confidentially for mediation. A trained student mediator then sits with both students and tries to help them reach an accord.
If that happens, then the students sign a contact based on the resolution and shake hands.
The mediators shared examples of student arguments that they were able to resolve. Many of the problems, they said, were related to boyfriend/girlfriend problems or bad feelings over rumors.
“Thank you for what you’re doing,” Locke told the students. “You’re making this school a safer place.”
Another benefit of the program, said district Superintendent Phil Snowdon, is that the mediation keeps petty problems from escalating to the point where children are punished.
The governor said he is looking to increase school funding for violence intervention and prevention.
“Violence in schools must be stopped,” he said. “We send our kids to school to be taught and nurtured, not beat up or harassed.”
Afterward, Locke talked to a class of sixth-graders. In response to questions, he told the students that on occasion he ditches his security detail to drive around in his 1993 station wagon.
And no, he has never skateboarded, he said.
Teams head to finals
A team from Jefferson Elementary and one from Sacajawea Middle School will compete in the Destination ImagiNation world finals in Ames, Iowa, May 24-28.
The teams won first in both the regional competition March 4 and the state competition April 15.
Jefferson’s team includes Diana Budenholzer, Michelle Vorpahl, Marico Nagashima, Collett Bryante, Karina Walker, Natasha Branham, Jenna Johansson and coach Maryann Sharkey.
Sacajawea’s team includes Abram Conrad, Lee Pearson, Jared Tanner, Brian Birgenheier, Colin Sowder and coach Kandy Conrad.
In the competitions, the teams were required to present a solution to a problem they’ve worked on for five months, such as building a pasta structure that will bear weight. They also were asked to find solutions to on-the-spot problems, such as making a bridge out of paper and string.
Students are not allowed to receive any help from adults.
The idea is that children “work outside the box,” said Destination ImagiNation regional coordinator Michele Moore.
“By encouraging creative thinking and problem solving, we are helping teach the children of today how to solve tomorrow’s problems,” she said.
For more information on the Destination ImagiNation Organization, check out its Web site at www.dini.org.
Scholarship awarded
The Moran Prairie Parent Teacher Group selected Ferris senior Sherry Gardella, a Moran Prairie Elementary alumna, to receive its annual $1,000 college scholarship.
The PTG selected the 3.97 g.p.a. honors student out of nine other applicants for her scholastic achievement, leadership, and school activities and community service. Gardella, daughter of Joel and Kathy Gardella, plans to study business and French and pursue a degree in international business from the University of Washington.
Kids’ art exhibit scheduled
City Hall’s Chase Gallery is hosting the Spokane School District’s 21st annual “Children of the Sun” middle school art exhibit Tuesday through May 26 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
The exhibit will feature middle school students’ artwork, including drawings, paintings and calligraphy.
“It’s a chance for students to showcase their talents in a public exhibition,” said Susan Smith, the Chase Gallery outreach coordinator. An artists’ reception will take place May 8 from 5 to 6 p.m.
Art workshop will be May 6
A free public art workshop will be held at 10:30 a.m. May 6 at the South Hill Branch Library, 3324 S. Perry.
The workshop will cover the public art process and how to apply for the Washington State Arts Commission’s Artist Slide Registry, the city of Spokane Percent for Arts Program and other regional public art programs.
Spokane artists Ken Spiering and Louise Kodis, a South Hill resident, will present their experiences - what works and what doesn’t in the public art arena and tips for artists starting out or interested in working in this field.
Artists are asked to respond by calling 625-6050.
Ferris rummage sale Saturday
Ferris High School is hosting a rummage sale Saturday to raise money for its senior all-night graduation party.
The sale will be at the Ferris bus ramp, 37th and Regal, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations will be accepted Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
There is no admission cost.
For more information, call 448-8323 or 448-1407.
Anti-drug ads honored
The Spokane Advertising Federation hosted its 10th annual Teens Against Substance Abuse program Monday.
As part of the program, junior high students created anti-drug advertisements for print, radio, TV and outdoor advertising. Local advertising professionals judged the ads, and the winners received cash awards.
This year, the contest received more than 350 individual entries.
South Side winners include: Outdoor advertising: Aspen Alspaugh, Chase Middle School, Merit No. 1 for “Smoking Gives You Wrinkles.”
Print advertising: Jennifer Branson, Chase Middle School, Honorable Mention for “The Camel’s Son Says No More.”
Radio: Renee Starkey and Danielle Marchioro, Chase Middle School, Excellence for “TASC Radio.”
Staff writer Kristen Kromer contributed to this report.