EV orchestra alums may play in concert

Former East Valley orchestra alumni and their stringed instruments are being called back for an encore. Any orchestra student who graduated from East Valley High School is invited to participate in the 25th anniversary celebration of the East Valley Spring String Fling, scheduled for 7 p.m. May 17.

“What we want them to do is help us celebrate our 25-year anniversary,” said Mary Jayne, orchestra instructor for East Valley Middle School, Trent Elementary and Skyview/CCS Elementary.

“We’ve had a wonderful tradition of string players and string families, including Strolling Strings. We want all people who feel they can play with us to come back and help us celebrate.”

This year’s musical celebration is titled “Silver Strings – Dreams Do Come True.”

The String Fling joins orchestra students with stringed instrument players from throughout the district who are in fourth- to 12th grades for the annual concert, held at East Valley High School, 15711 E. Wellesley Ave.

The district will have the former orchestra students join in playing one very familiar song and participating in the finale.

Anyone who would like to participate may contact Jayne at 924-9383 or orchestra instructor Marla Pflanz at 927-3200 for additional information.

Tots raise money for St. Jude’s

About 38 St. John Vianney Catholic School preschool kids took to tricycles and bicycles Wednesday to raise money for St. Jude’s Hospital.

The 3- and 4-year-olds were cheered on by a group of Gonzaga Prep students during the bike- and trike-a-thon held at St. John Vianney.

Julie Troksa, preschool teacher, has covered bike safety with the children for the past four weeks.

The group collected pledges for about three weeks. There were also prizes for the best-decorated bikes.

Valley students win ImagiNation

Several Spokane Valley student teams captured wins at a regional Destination ImagiNation tournament.

The students competed March 5 at Gonzaga Prep.

Destination ImagiNation is a creativity and problem-solving program for youths nationwide. Students choose a challenge they work on as a team to solve during a few months.

The challenges might be to build a structure that can hold a certain number of pounds or producing a play.

At the competition, these teams also are given problems to solve within minutes.

An East Valley Middle School team took first place and is headed to a state tournament in Wenatchee. The students also won the coveted Renaissance Award.

The EVMS team includes Hailey Bell, Adam Bernbaum, Marissa Delprado and Camille Frank. Teacher Shannon Stookey is their coach.

The Skyview/Continuous Curriculum School team took a second place and was nominated for a spirit award. This young team was coached by two parents, Kathy Long and Linda Bernbaum.

The students are second-grader Elizabeth Bernbaum, third-grader A.J. Klukowski, kindergartener Ashley Klukowski, first-grader Lily Ann Long, third-grader Cassidy Long and second-grader Emily Sior.

The Central Valley Able Learner group won a first place in the Sudden Serendipity problem for the elementary division. Their coach, Joan Dunham, said the team includes Adams Elementary students Jessica Boynton, Natalie Riel and Savannah Rutter and St. Mary’s students Lucy Koth, Caity Ewers and Cameron Dolsby.

Rutter won an individual creativity merit called the Da Vinci award.

A Central Valley High School team that won a first place and invitation to state includes Nguyen Nguyen, Nick Morden, Alyssa Plumb, Staisha Drager, Brian Donini and Blake Baker. Lori Buratto is their adviser.

The Orchard Center Elementary School team from West Valley took a third-place win with members Isabelle McTeer, Sam Roderick, Shelby Schafer, Ryan Cao, Bailey Castor, Kayla Gariepy and Desiree Kivett. The coach is parent Elizabeth McTeer.

Crafts fair at Skyview

A spring craft fair and rummage sale is scheduled today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Skyview Elementary school, 16924 East Wellesley Ave.

The sale will benefit the East Valley High School Senior All-Knighter, a substance-free graduation party.

Valley High student wins art award

Spokane Valley High School student Cassaundra Swiger recently won a top art award in the Educational Service District 101’s regional art show.

Swiger received a first place for digital photography.

Her display will go on for judging in the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s art show.

WV senior goes to national DECAs

A West Valley High School senior is heading to a national DECA competition in April.

Robyn Hayden won in her division at a state DECA contest for food marketing research.

Also from WVHS, junior Steven Clark was recently elected to a state DECA vice president position.

DECA is a club that promotes marketing education, management and entrepreneurship.