Gonzaga Prep students receive service award
Annie Morgan and Meghan Verhaag, both of Spokane, are among Gonzaga Prep seniors who were recently awarded the Ignation Service Award.
The award, named for St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, honors students who best represent the Gonzaga Prep tradition of being a “person for others,” and representing the Ignation spirit of community service.
Morgan is a volunteer at Camp Cross, Logan Elementary School and in the nursery at Lincoln Heights Congregational Church.
Verhaag formed a group to collect and send care packages to troops overseas called Soldiers’ Angels. According to a press release from the school, Neil Kempen, the director of community service at Gonzaga Prep, said “each one of these young ladies represents the ideal of serving our community.”
Morgan is the daughter of David Morgan and Katherine Jones, and Verhaag is the daughter of Mark and Michelle Sullivan, all of Spokane.
NC student honored for writing
Charles Du, a student at North Central High School, was awarded a Certificate of Superior Writing, along with the acknowledgement that he is among the best student writers in the country. He is one of three Washington students to receive the 2008 Achievement Awards in Writing.
High schools across the U.S. nominated 1,789 juniors for the award; only 525 were chosen as exceptional writers.
NWC collecting for Christmas Child
Think it’s too early think about Christmas? It’s not when it comes to needy children in Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines, China, Chile, Russia, Venezuela, Thailand and Nicaragua.
Students at Northwest Christian elementary and middle schools are planning for Christmas now as they begin collecting small toys, notebooks, pencils and toothbrushes to fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Each student will be given a shoebox to fill. Shoeboxes will be collected in November.
Operation Christmas Child is part of the ministry Samaritan’s Purse. For more information visit www.samaritanspurse.com.
District recognized for financial reporting
Spokane Public Schools has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada and Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by Association of School Business Officials International.
The district was recognized for its achievements in school finances and financial reporting. A press release sent by Spokane Public Schools stated that the awards were given to the district for its comprehensive annual financial report 2007.
Shadle hosts Relay for Life
The Shadle High School American Cancer Society Relay for Life will be Oct. 18 at Shadle’s athletic field.
Terah Sandifer, co-chair for the event, has described the event as a “mini version” of the Society’s annual Spokane Relay, according to a press release from the school.
Zara Price is also a co-chair and has been working with Sandifer to encourage students, parents, family members, teachers and staff, and to participate in the school’s relay. They have been collecting donations from area businesses to be given out as prizes to the participating teams, such as gift certificates and cash awards.
The money raised by Relay for Life teams will be used by the American Cancer Society to continue its funding of cancer research, its state and national legislative advocacy, and its many educational and patient service programs.
The opening ceremonies will begin at 5 p.m. and the event will run through 10 p.m.
To register a team for the American Cancer Society Shadle High School Relay For Life, to offer a donation, or to learn more about the event, contact Terah Sandifer at (509) 496-1519 or e-mail terah-lynn@hotmail.com or Zara Price at (509) 844-2745 or e-mail at zaprice@comcast.net.
Professor appointed to school board
Jeffrey Bierman, a physics professor at Gonzaga University, was recently appointed by the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors to the position held by Christie Querna. Querna resigned in early September. Bierman was sworn in on Wednesday.
He is a volunteer at Franklin Elementary School, a member of the site council and an alternate representative to the district Citizens Advisory Committee. He has been a member of American Association of Physics Teachers, along with other state and national physics education organizations.
Bierman has served on a number of Spokane city boards, including more than four years on the Plan Commission.
ECEAP offers new programs
The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, or ECEAP, is offering two new programs in Spokane.
The ECEAP classes are for children ages 3 and 4, from low-income families living in Spokane. Busing is provided within designated areas.
The two new programs include health, family support services, parenting education, mental health, nutrition and disabilities, and are at Stevens Elementary, 1717 E. Sinto Ave. and Lincoln Heights Elementary, 3322 E. 22nd Ave. Morning and afternoon classes are available at Lincoln Heights.
All families are welcome and encouraged to participate.
For more information call 354-6336.
National Merit semifinalists named
Ten high school students from Spokane Public Schools were recently named semifinalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship program. Approximately 16,000 students nationwide were chosen.
The 10 semifinalists are Leon Dean, North Central; Erik Aden, Joshua Bosshardt, Tatiana Eldore, Wilson Faust, Madeline Greeley, Janet Hong, Jonathan Miller, Jessica Nichols and Tyler Rigsby, Lewis and Clark.
The winners will be announced in April.