4th-graders face challenges on ‘Homework Island’
It started with 31. It ended with 11. Casualties were seen on the first day. Some had left theirs at home. Others forgot to do it completely. Some made it as far as day six, but by the seventh day of Atlas Elementary fourth-grade teacher Charlene Babb’s homework challenge, it was clear who was a survivor and who wasn’t.
Eleven students survived the “Survivor: Homework Island” challenge, completing every one of the 10 assignments on time and without errors. Participation was optional, but those who chose to take part had serious rules to follow.
Neat handwriting. Correct heading in the right place on the paper. And absolutely no spelling mistakes.
Was it difficult?
Very, according to Babb’s students.
“I forgot some homework on the second day, so I was kicked off,” said 10-year-old Alex Lang-Zollinger. “I almost cried when I got home.”
Alex had forgotten her second-day assignment, a homemade card for someone who’d helped her recently. That meant she was out of the competition, ineligible for the free homework passes and a Saturday bowling trip the winners receive.
The 11 survivors were each honored Oct. 20 with three passes to get them out of future homework assignments and with posters bearing their names, declaring them survivors.
“It started off as just a way to get them to do homework and do it neatly,” said Babb, who started the competition last year.
The 11 survivors are: Ashley Beard, Makenzy Darnton, Josh Doherty, Brandon Dotson, Samantha Foster, Ryan Gibson, Max Johnson, Jordan McDaniel, Austin Moore, Justin Salsbery and JaeCie Wilson.
The 10 assignments varied considerably in content. Some kids said that was sometimes the hardest part – having a fun assignment one day and a not-so-fun one the next.
“Sometimes you have assignments that you want to do and ones that you don’t want to do,” said Max Johnson.
Assignments ranged from interviewing your oldest family members and writing down the questions and answers, to researching why the appaloosa horse was important to the Nez Perce Tribe, to writing a play or song about the importance of doing homework neatly and correctly.
“They had all the subjects involved with it,” Babb said.
Anne Frank: A Play
Lakeland High School’s aspiring actresses and actors will put on three performances of playwright Wendy Kesselman’s adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” beginning Thursday at Lakeland in Rathdrum.
Lakeland senior Aliah Lynn plays Anne Frank and junior Ricardo Palacios plays Anne’s father, Otto. The play is directed by teacher Becca Palmer and features musical performances by Lakeland music director Mark Sescilla’s a cappella choir.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and next Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets are $3 if purchased in advance with a student body card, $4 if purchased in advance without, and $5 at the door.
The performances come at the same time a photo exhibit featuring 70 photos Otto Frank took of Anne and her sister, Margot, are on display at the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d’Alene.
“Anne Frank: A Private Photo Album” corresponds with a series of Holocaust-related speakers, documentaries and events in October and November sponsored by the Human Rights Education Institute. The photos are on display through Nov. 17.
For more information on the Lakeland High School play, call Palmer at 687-0181. For more information on the photo display or the corresponding events, call 292-2359.
Last-minute deadline
High school juniors interested in being a page in the U.S Senate have until Wednesday to submit their applications. Idaho U.S Sen. Larry Craig can select one student from an Idaho high school to serve as a page on the U.S Senate floor
Pages are paid a stipend and are required to live in a residence hall. Their duties consist primarily of delivering correspondence and legislative materials to senators and preparing the Senate chambers for sessions.
Applications and more information about the page program are available at Craig’s Coeur d’Alene office or on his Web site at http://craig.senate.gov/page.cfm.
Craig assured parents in a news release that the page program is a safe and valuable one.
“I have worked closely with the Senate Page program for the past nine years and have continued to be impressed by their professionalism and care for the pages,” Craig said. “I am confident the pages are safe, but I encourage parents to contact my office if they have any concerns.”
Applications can be faxed or mailed to Craig’s office in Pocatello, though the Wednesday deadline may mean regular postal mail won’t get it there in time. Fax the application to 236-6820 or mail it to Office of U.S Senator Larry Craig, ATTN: Page Program, 275 South Fifth Ave., Suite 290, Pocatello, ID 83201.