Suited up for summer

Stevens Elementary School was abuzz with end-of-year activities Thursday – kindergartners graduating in caps and gowns, an awards ceremony in the library and extended recess on the playground.

A fourth activity, unexpected but welcome, was happening in the gym. New bathing suits were being distributed to nearly every student in the school.

“I can’t wait to go swimming,” said first-grader Ana Hendry.

The Jon Tyler Boys Ranch Foundation donated more than $5,000 to buy the swimsuits for the students at Stevens, where 88 percent of the students live below poverty level. The school is second only to Holmes Elementary, where the percentage is 88.9.

Lisa Tyler, the donor’s daughter, said the reason for donating the summer wear is “when we would take foster kids to the city swimming pool, we would notice kids being turned away because they were wearing shorts.”

Out of 553 students, 456 lined up to get their colorful new attire.

In addition to swimsuits, students who receive free or reduced-price meals will get discounted passes to Spokane’s Witter Pool. Splash pads at the city pools are already open. The swimming pools open Monday.

“This reminds me of home,” Kyle Evans said as he held up black and red swim trunks decorated with white flowers. “I was born in Hawaii.”

For fourth-grader Muntadher Shkhair, who moved here from Iraq, it was his first pair.

“Sweet,” said another boy as he checked out his new shorts.

Young Athra Sabah held up her pink one-piece suit: “What’s this for? Where are we wearing it?” When the answer came, she asked: “When can we go?”