Ed Notebook: G-Prep wins problem-solving meet

A Gonzaga Prep Destination ImagiNation team won first place with a problem-solving project at the state competition March 31 in Wenatchee.

The team of seven students also won a Renaissance Award for high creativity in design and will be sending one team to the Global Finals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville at the end of May.

Destination ImagiNation promotes creativity and teamwork through problem-solving. Students compete at the local, regional and national levels by creating a problem and then working to solve it using theatrics and props.

This year, the team, called Round About Courage, created a performance in which a hero must use his or her courage to solve a problem. The theme was based on a medieval band of Irish Gypsies who confront a cantankerous town mayor. The story is played out on a device built by the students and included a car that transforms into a stage and a machine with levers, weights, pulleys and marbles.

The Gonzaga Prep team consists of Brendan Sowers, Daniel Parisot, Jo Kestell, Azalyn Croft, Samantha Uliano, Jennie Drake and Ayana Croft.

This will be the third trip to the global competition for Gonzaga Prep’s teams. The program has been in place at the school for 16 years with the help of coach and teacher Michael Carroll. The school has competed in the state competition for 14 years.

Area seniors gain Scholar status

Five Spokane Public Schools high school seniors have been named Washington Scholars for 2007, and two others have been chosen as alternates.

The program recognizes the accomplishments of three seniors in each of the state’s 49 legislative districts. Students receive state scholarships for up to four years of resident undergraduate tuition and fees at any Washington public or independent college or university.

High school principals nominate the top 1 percent of a school’s senior class based on academic achievement, leadership and community service. A committee of principals and college admissions staffers typically selects four students in each district, naming three as Washington Scholars and one as an alternate.

The 2007 Spokane winners and alternates are:

Ferris: Trevor Crain, who plans to study aerospace engineering.

Lewis and Clark: Jeffrey Burkert, who will study math, and alternate Theodore Newell.

North Central: Maggie Capwell, who is undecided about her plans, and alternate Rachel Goossen;

Shadle Park: Kramer Ortman, who plans to study pre-med, and Rachel Wagley, who plans to study political science.

Online school open house planned

Spokane Virtual Learning, Spokane Public Schools’ Web-based project, will hold two information sessions for interested students and parents.

The first is planned Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. The second will be Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Shadle Park Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave.

Courses offered through Spokane Virtual Learning are free to students of Spokane schools and are taught by Spokane teachers. Students from other school districts also can enroll for a fee. More than 30 courses are available.

For more information, visit www.spokanevirtual.com.