Extended school speed zones in works
School speed zones are being changed near Greenacres Elementary and University Elementary.
The changes, expected to take effect at the end of April, will lengthen the distance where drivers have to slow down to 20 miles per hour when children are present. The changes are being made by the city of Spokane Valley to increase safety for pedestrians and drivers.
The zone at Greenacres Elementary will be extended 300 feet in the areas west of Long on Fourth Avenue and south of Fourth on Long.
The speed zone at University Elementary will be extended 300 feet west of University and 300 feet east of Glenn on 16th Avenue.
The city’s map of current speed limits is available online at www.spokanevalley.org.
Camp Progress
Last month Central Valley School District Superintendent Ben Small was one of several guest readers in Progress Elementary’s “Adventures in Reading at Camp Progress.”
Tents were set up in the gym and students listened to guests read stories inside the tents. Music was performed by the Bluegrass Spectators. Students also made camp journals, sang campfire songs and played camping bingo. Each child went home with a book.
Academic excellence
The orchestra program at East Valley High School was recently named the 3A Orchestra 2008-’09 Winter State Academic Achievement Award Champions.
The orchestra is directed by Marla Pflanz. The cumulative grade-point average for the orchestra students is 3.74. Students will receive patches and the group will receive a plaque recognizing their achievement.
Meritorious Service Award
The Central Valley School District recently announced the winners of its annual Meritorious Service Awards. The awards honor contributions by employees, teams, community members and organizations. This year 67 individuals and 18 teams were nominated by co-workers, parents and students. Winners were selected by school board members and superintendent Ben Small.
The winners are: P.J. Jarvis, Greenacres Elementary, health and fitness teacher; Laurie Spence, Opportunity Elementary, literary coach and teacher; John Khoury, North Pines Middle School, head custodian; Todd Ballensky, Progress Elementary, community member/organization; Josh Allison of Horizon Credit Union, North Pines Middle School, community member/organization; and the School to Life Program at Barker High School and Learning Center.
Plant Sale
The East Valley High School band will host its 12th annual plant sale fundraiser this month. This year the band is selling dozens of varieties of bedding plants and hanging baskets, including marigolds, pansies, petunias, snapdragons and geraniums. Six varieties of tomato plants are also available.
The cost is $18 per flat or $1.50 per pony. Plants are only available by pre-ordering. The deadline for ordering is April 15. For information or to receive an order form, call (509) 226-1222 or (509) 226-0766.
Plants will be available for pickup at the East Valley Administration Office, 12325 E. Grace Ave., on May 2. Orders can be mailed to EV Band Boosters, P.O. Box 447, Otis Orchards, WA 99027.
Choice application deadline
Students interested in attending a Central Valley school outside their residential attendance area have until April 15 to submit an application to “choice” into a different school. Students living outside the Central Valley district who would like to attend a CV school have until May 1 to submit an application.
Applications should be picked up from the school the student wishes to attend. Each school will use a lottery system to select which choice students are accepted.
Ten Central Valley Schools are closed to choice students due to high enrollment. They are: Adams Elementary, Broadway Elementary, Greenacres Elementary, Liberty Lake Elementary, Sunrise Elementary, Central Valley Kindergarten Center, Bowdish Middle School, Evergreen Middle School, Greenacres Middle School and Central Valley High School. The high school will consider applications from students residing in the district, but not those living outside district boundaries.
For more information, call (509) 228-5400 or visit www.cvsd.org.