Riverside Middle School Hosts Exchange Student

Though he’s only been in class for about a week and a half, Jung Seok Woo - known as “Michael Anderson” while he’s in the United States - is already known as a math whiz. But some subjects, he admits, give him trouble.

“History is hard,” the sixth-grader said. “And English.”

That’s understandable, considering the fact that he arrived in the United States Jan. 7. Anderson is one of nine sixth- through eighth-graders visiting Riverside Middle School from Korea this month.

Riverside residents Wanda and Sam Kerbs are northwest regional directors of the Nacel Open Door program, which offers cultural exchange opportunities to students and their families. They arrange for local families to host foreign students and for American students to travel abroad.

The program generally focuses on high school students. But when Jim McConnell, principal of Riverside Middle School, asked Wanda Kerbs if she could help bring some diversity to the school, she decided to try an exchange program at a younger level. The school first hosted exchange students last year.

“It’s a fabulous experience,” Kerbs said. “The kids learn so much about themselves, and learn to appreciate and take interest in their country.”

Anderson’s host sibling Drew Anderson said he enjoys having him around.

“It’s fun,” the 11-year-old said. “We play Play Station, build snow forts and chase the dog.” He’s also learned how to say “monkey” in Korean.

The Korean students attend classes all morning with their host sibling - and are responsible for the homework - and then tour the area with Kerbs in the afternoon. So far, they have visited grocery and hardware stores, KHQ TV station, Deer Park’s fire station, the sheriff’s department and library, an art gallery and Gonzaga University.

“I liked the fire station,” said Jiyea Kim, also known as Sandy.

“I like school the best,” said Kyun Ha Kang, who goes by Mike. “There are many friends.”

Most agree that friendships are the biggest benefit.

“It’s fun seeing someone at the airport for the first time and getting to be their friend,” said seventh-grader Dianne Kasinger, Sandy’s host sibling. “And you always have someone with you.”

But the long-range results hold a wealth of potential.

“Who knows - maybe we’ll make a difference in peace talks some day,” Kerbs said. “After all, these are our future leaders.”

For more information about the Nacel Open Door program, exchange programs or being a host family, call 276-6272 or (888) 622-3592.

Donkey basketball trots into Mead

Mead Middle School takes on Northwood Middle School in basketball next week. In this important game, there will be no horsing around.

But there will be donkeys.

Mead has invited its neighbor to join its traditional donkey basketball game, in which players ride real, trained donkeys around the court. Proceeds from the game benefit the Wishing Star Foundation.

The game is Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mead Middle School, 12509 N. Market. Tickets are available at both schools in the bookkeeping offices. Prices are $4.50 for adults, $3.50 for grades seven through 12, $2.50 for kindergartners through sixth grade and free for anyone younger.

Tickets will be a dollar more at the door.

North Side students celebrate MLK

North Side students devoted time Friday to honoring Martin Luther King Jr. through music, drama and dance.

Indian Trail Elementary School third-graders performed a play - broken up by songs - that showed what life was like before and after King.

Rogers High School students stirred up an emotional stew by presenting a series of skits and songs - some of which were intended to offend.

“If you’re affected, we hope you’ll be moved to take action,” students said.

In part of the performance, they re-enacted the deaths of James Byrd, the black man beaten and dragged by three white men in Texas, and Matthew Shepard, the gay man beaten to death and hung from a fence post in Wyoming. Students said the message is that stereotypes can be harmful if we let them determine how we act.

At Logan Elementary School, leadership students worked before and after school, and during recess gathering information about African Americans - like former Mayor James Chase, photographer Wally Hagin and civil rights attorney Carl Maxey - who have made lasting contributions to Spokane. They presented their findings as autobiographies.

Special guest Peggie Troutt, executive secretary to the commander of the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington National Guard, also took on a new identity as she performed Sojourner Truth’s speech “Ain’t I a Woman.” Truth spoke against slavery and for women’s rights in the 1800s.

Logan students gave the assembly rave reviews.

“It was a really good assembly,” said fifth-grader Brent Marshall, “I like that they told us about African American people in Spokane.”

“It’s good for people to celebrate Martin Luther King around the world,” added fifth-grader Chris Allen. “He taught blacks and whites to care for each other.”

Free workshops at SCC

Spokane Community College’s speech communication department will sponsor a free workshop on personal, professional and global communication styles Friday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the SCC Lair-Student Center, Building 6, 1810 N. Greene St.

“Connection with Others - the Global Village is Now!” features seven workshops and a panel discussion with audience participation.

For more information about the conference, contact SCC speech instructor Angela Wizner at 533-7185.

Mouse pads offer safety rules

Spokane police are giving Spokane School District fifth-graders computer mouse pads that feature rules for how to use the Internet safely.

Designed by Detective Jerry Keller of the child-abuse unit, the mouse pads will also be available for free at the city’s COPS substations.

“The Internet is a wonderful tool, but it also has a dark side,” Keller said in a press release. “No one ever really knows who’s at the other end of the computer cable.”

“Children can become involved with a predatory adult, one who may pose as a teenager, and can be drawn into a relationship that could pose a real danger to a child,” he said.

Recently, the child-abuse unit arrested a 21-year-old Spokane man who used the Internet to lure a 13-year-old North Idaho girl to Spokane for sexual relations. He was charged with child rape.