Grants help bring learning aids into classes
Thanks to Post Falls Education Foundation grants, several teachers have been able to bring hands-on exhibits, programs and other learning materials into area schools.
At Post Falls Middle School, the English department accumulated CDs for a listening library. An aid to both special education students and auditory learners, these CDs help build children’s reading fluency. They have the book in front of them while they listen to it being read.
“It’s so successful with these kids,” said Lisa Walden, an eighth-grade English teacher. Students who have never completed a big book are now engaging in discussions of plots and characters, Walden said. “They light up.”
The cost? $1,027.
Also at that school, the science department brought an exhibit from the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, which included an actual brain students could hold.
The more hands-on a lesson is, the better students learn, said Margaret McCoy, a life science teacher.
The cost? $450.
At Post Falls High School, students are working with professional video equipment, albeit lower-scale.
“They go out into the industry, this is what they’re going to be using,” said Gabe Lawson, who teaches a popular video production class.
“This was tremendous for us,” Lawson said. “We use this stuff every day.”
The cost? $500.
The education foundation, a nonprofit organization, has over the past nine years awarded more than $164,000 in grants. They pay for items on teachers wish lists, which otherwise might come out of teachers’ pockets or school fund-raisers.
“It has made a tremendous difference in our district,” said Post Falls Superintendent Jerry Keane.
On March 4, the foundation will be holding its main fund-raiser: Wine, Stein and Dine.
The event includes dinner, drinks and a complimentary wine glass or beer stein, as well as live entertainment, silent auction and wine tree raffle.
Tickets are available for $40 at: Idaho Washington Trust Banks, Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, Post Falls Super One, Vino, A Wine Shop and Connected Northwest Insurance.
For more information, call Debra Slaney at 777-4313 or 661-7225.
PFHS choir to sing anthem at Mariners game
The Post Falls High School choir will perform to its biggest audience yet later this spring.
The 40-member group will be belting out the national anthem at the April 21 Seattle Mariner’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
It’ll be Ichiro bobble head night – toys of the Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki will be given out – so about 40,000 fans are expected to fill the stadium, and many more will watch the game televised on Fox.
“They’re both excited and a little scared,” John Kracht, choir director, said of his students.
The choir planned to be in Seattle that weekend for the Heritage Music Festival, so Kracht thought he’d try to get them singing at the game as well.
The choir is about $3,000 short for the trip expenses – travel, lodging, food – so if anyone’s interested in chipping in, call Kracht at the school at 773-0581.
Lake City High readies for craft show
Attention, crafters. On March 18, Lake City High School parents are holding their fourth annual Craft Show. Booths cost $30, and the event is anticipated to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Proceeds go to fund the senior class party at Silverwood Theme Park on graduation night.
For more information, call Linda Palo at 772-4468.
Stories wanted for Reading Rainbow contest
Young writers and illustrators are invited to enter Idaho Public Television’s annual Reading Rainbow contest. Judges are looking for original and creative stories, told by a mix of text and illustration. Children from kindergarten to third grade are eligible to compete (parents can help the younger kids who can’t write yet).
Winners will receive a selection of books and have their stories posted on the Idaho Public Television Web site.
The deadline for entries is March 24. Rules and entry forms can be accessed at: www.idahoptv.org/kids.