Inside our schools: Horizon students’ antidrug TV spot named ‘best’
A group of Horizon Middle School eighth-graders can now claim production of a winning television spot.
They were awarded for their antidrug television announcement in a regional contest.
The drama class students worked with local businesses Percy’s Cafe Americana and ILF Media to film a 30-second Drug-Free Public Service Announcement during spring break.
At a May 6 Teens Against Substance Abuse Campaign awards ceremony, the Horizon production won for Best Television Spot and Best of Show out of all categories such as print ads, radio spots and billboards. The competition was open to middle schools in the greater Spokane area, and drew more than 500 submissions.
The Horizon group’s winning PSA will now air on KREM 2 and Clear Channel stations through the end of the year. The group also took home cash and many prizes such as iPods, CDs and almost $200 awarded during the ceremony held at Spokane Falls Community College, said Sara Filanoski, who teaches language arts, social studies and drama at Horizon.
The students involved in planning, writing, filming and producing the shoot were: Fernando Duran-Vargas, Kevin Abercrombie, Jordan Ziemer, Cojo Smith, Caleb Spencer, Jeshua Defilippis, John Morris, Victoria Gatts, Robert Marshall, Lexi Clark, Alexander Bieker and Devon Jensen.
A panel of judges selected the winning entries. In order to produce the PSA, the Horizon students in Filanoski’s drama class made storyboards and action sheets, designed props and costumes and spent a Saturday filming at Percy’s Cafe Americana. ILF Media in Spokane helped the students with blocking, filming and editing.
EVHS students earn honors for artwork
Two East Valley High School art students won top state honors.
Teacher Pam Smith said the annual contest, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction High School Art Show, attracted about 2,500 student art pieces from nine Washington regions known as educational service districts. From those entries, just over a dozen finalists are selected as state winners.
EVHS senior Lori Bourgeous and sophomore Tonya Strong both won first-place Jury Choice Awards in the 35th annual Superintendent’s High School Art Competition in Olympia.
A reception honoring the winners was held May 16 in Olympia, with Smith joining Strong and her family, while Bourgeous, a track athlete, was scheduled to attend a regional track competition in Richland.
School environmental programs recognized
Eastern Washington area public schools received cash awards this week for their outstanding environmental programs. The Terry Husseman School Awards program, presented by the Washington Department of Ecology, recognizes schools annually for developing and implementing innovative curricula, sustaining ongoing waste reduction efforts or starting new environmental programs.
The awards were presented in Olympia during a ceremony. Awards ranged from $100 to $5,000. The three categories of Terry Husseman awards were Seed Award, Sustainable School Award, and Environmental Curriculum Award. The Seed Award helps schools with startup costs for new programs in schools or the community.
Spokane-area winners for the 2007-08 school year included:
West Valley High School – $1,500 award to expand the current recycling program to include as many materials as possible and to educate students about recycling benefits. West Valley hopes to create a school atmosphere whereby students and faculty support and are involved in ongoing sustainability practices.
Seth Woodard Elementary – $1,000 award to increase the recycling program and to expand an organic greenhouse. Funding also will help purchase recycling containers and native and perennial plants and seeds.
Central Valley – $250 award to support mixed-paper recycling efforts.
Adams Elementary School – $100 toward work focused on protecting the earth and its natural resources for future generations. Adams wants the community to take steps to prevent global warming.
West Valley City School – $275 toward students helping run a recycling program and conduct food waste data reports daily. Students grow organic produce and raise trout for release in Liberty Lake. The students are also involved in community service projects such as stream cleanups and habitat restoration.
EVSD Teachers receive awards
The East Valley School District has announced recipients of the 2008 Jim Kuehnle Outstanding Educator Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Teachers of core curriculum classes – math, language arts, science, history, social studies, business and/or foreign language – are eligible for this award with selection based on educators who are outstanding, dedicated, hardworking, diligent in covering assignments, motivating, honest, caring, and respected by students, staff and patrons.
The 2008 Jim Kuehnle Outstanding Educators are: Melanie Delaney, Trent Elementary; Kathy Gordon, Continuous Curriculum School; and Lisa Williksen, East Valley High School.
Kuehnle was a Spokane Valley businessman, community leader and legislator who raised his family and conducted his business in East Valley School District for more than 20 years. He was a longtime proponent of sound education and esteemed those who promoted and achieved high academic standards.
The teachers receive a financial stipend that may be used for professional or personal growth.