Mt. Spokane High holds mock election

Students at Mt. Spokane High School exercised their right to vote in the mock election last week.

The nationwide event is organized by the University of Virginia’s Center for Responsive Politics and the Youth Leadership Initiative and has been done at Mt. Spokane since 2002.

More than 750 people participated in the election, including teachers and students in grades 9 through 12, which focused on local and national candidates running for offices, including presidential, governor, 5th district representative, etc.

The Mt. Spokane Young Democrats and Young Republicans Club also created ballot questions, to measure the staff and student opinions on foreign policy and domestic issues.

Since the school year began, students have been exposed to campaign posters and political discussions. The latest edition of the student newspaper was devoted to the election and students were educated about the issues.

“This is the best turnout we’ve ever had, lots of enthusiasm, lots of interest,” said Paul Kautzman, the AP government politics teacher at Mt. Spokane.

Traditional polling booths with laptops were set up for the students and teachers to vote electronically. For students who were unable to make it to the polls, absentee ballots could be requested and sent to their classrooms.

Some Mt. Spokane seniors were 18 when the mock election process began, or would be 18 by Election Day. The election at school encouraged them to register to vote and used the mock election as a “dry run.”

Kautzman said “It was definitely a competition. They’re much more aware of the issues. It was a great process.”

Lantern Walk at Franklin

Students and their families, along with the staff at Franklin Elementary will gather tonight at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the night growing longer at the Lantern Walk, an event held at the school for over 10 years.

Rebecca Danica, a third-fourth combination teacher at Franklin, saw the idea at a school in Canada and brought it to the school. Ten classes at Franklin participate, from grades 1 to 4. The younger students began preparing at the beginning of October, learning songs and making their lanterns about two weeks ago.

The students will walk along the school grounds, singing songs about autumn. Once outside, the students will bring light to the darkness with their lanterns. After the walk the children, families and school staff are welcome back to the school for hot apple cider.

Danica said that sometimes previous students bring their old lanterns, some with five or six, to the celebration, making the evening a full family event. “It’s kind of a beautiful, magical time,” she said.

Cataldo kids have ‘Denim Day’

During the month of October, Cataldo Catholic School celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness month with “Denim Day.”

Students were allowed to wear jeans to school, rather than their daily uniform, and donate $5 to breast cancer awareness. Cataldo students raised more than $1,000.

The money was donated to Sacred Heart Women’s Health Center Coach, which provides mammogram screenings and services to women across the Inland Northwest, assisting those who may not have insurance or the ability to pay.