Birds of prey entertain, educate Sunrise students
More than 500 Sunrise Elementary children could barely muffle their gasps Wednesday as raptor biologist Janie Fink coaxed a red-tailed hawk from a container onto her hand. The students worked even harder to stay quiet for a restless bald eagle.
Bringing birds of prey to nine Central Valley schools this week, Fink teamed up with “Arrowhawk” author Lola Schaefer to teach about preserving these wild birds. Schaefer wrote the fictional book based on a true story about a young hawk with an arrow in its leg and tail that survived six weeks before being captured, treated and returned to the wild.
Fink also brought a barn owl and small falcon, known as a kestrel, to show students.
“They’re wild animals,” she said, explaining that the birds she brings to show are ones that can’t survive independently. “They’re not my pets. They’ve simply been trained to sit on my hand. I need you to be very still and quiet so you don’t scare the birds.”
While bringing each bird out, Fink gave information about their different hunting techniques and living habits. However, she explained that all are raptors because they share three characteristics: talons, curved beaks and sharp vision.
“Owls listen for their dinner,” she told students. “Owls have special feathers to allow them to fly silently. This owl eats 10 mice a night. That’s why owls are important.”
The red-tailed hawk is another one that helps keep the rodent population down, Fink said, adding that they are also good indicators that the environment is healthy if hawks and other birds of prey are thriving. She warned the children that anyone shooting or harming the birds is wrong and breaking the law. “Tell people not to do that.”
“Whose job is it to take care of wildlife?” Fink asked at one point. “You are. People are. I’m trying to train the next generation to understand its people’s job to take care of wildlife.”
Usually before or after Fink’s presentation, Schaefer spent time with students describing the story of “Arrowhawk,” a book read by many of the children in the Central Valley schools she visited. Schaefer’s book is the winner of the 2006 Washington Children’s Choice Award.
Fink suggests that when people find an injured bird of prey and can’t get help right away, they can cover the bird with a shirt or jacket, carefully avoiding the feet, and place them in box before authorities arrive. People should never try to feed an injured bird of prey, she added, to avoid the bird connecting humans as a source of food.
Ornaments could hang in nation’s capital
Making Christmas decorations early could give some students a chance to win a Washington, D.C., trip.
An art workshop for home schooled or Alternative Learning Experience Program students is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the gymnasium at Seth Woodard Elementary School, 7401 E. Mission Ave. It will allow young people to make an ornament to hang on the Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., or one of the 65 companion trees. Students also can enter a chance to win a trip to the White House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Learning In A Family Environment, a K-8 Alternative Learning Experience Program in the West Valley School District, is sponsoring the workshop.
For more information, contact Melissa Fennen, LIFE director and teacher, at 921-2160.
EVHS honor society carnival will be Oct. 30
The East Valley High School National Honor Society plans its annual fall carnival from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30. The carnival provides games, treats and a haunted house for children from preschool age to fifth grade.
This year’s carnival will be in the commons area inside East Valley High School, 15711 E. Wellesley Ave. Cans of food will be accepted at the door to benefit the Spokane Valley Community Center, and children can wear their costumes.
Survey seeks input on CVSD teaching materials
A new online survey is seeking the opinions of parents about the materials used in Central Valley School District middle and high school classrooms. The district’s language arts adoption committee created the survey to gather input to select new student materials for English and language arts classrooms in the secondary schools.
The 12-question survey asks parents of Central Valley middle or high school students a series of general questions about their own knowledge about reading and writing, and the time and effort their student spends on reading and writing outside the school day. The survey will be posted on the district’s home page at www.cvsd.org through Oct. 31. All responses are anonymous and confidential.
Mountain View students named to all-state orchestra
Mountain View Middle School announced students who were selected to perform for the Washington Music Educators Association Junior All-State Orchestra. They are: Chris Allmand, Violin 2; Margaret Clarke, viola; Brian Coyne, cello; Melissa Kersh; cello; Jen Kersh, Violin 1.
These students, along with about 400 students from the region, will perform today at 4:30 p.m. at Lewis and Clark High School, 512 W. Fourth Ave. All students were selected through auditions. The concert is free.