Education Notebook: Party, auction benefit Lizzie Jensen fund
Friends and family of Lizzie Jensen invite Spokane residents to LizziePalooza, a party and fundraiser to benefit the Lizzie Jensen Memorial Fund: For the Good of All, on Saturday in the Western Avionics Hangar at Felts Field, 5505 E. Rutter Ave. The fund benefits the Mead Education Foundation.
The festivities start at 7 p.m. and will include music by Misspent Youth, hot dogs and soda pop, LizziePalooza T-shirts and wristbands, and an auction. Among the auction items is a print of Jensen’s original artwork.
Admission is by $10 donation, and children 18 and younger get in for free. All proceeds will benefit a Jensen memorial fund.
Alcohol will not be for sale, but participants may bring their own.
Jensen, a former student at Mead High School, died unexpectedly in her sleep on April 5. A committee of staff and students will annually choose a recipient of a gift from the fund. Jensen was described by family and friends as a sweet, happy and generous student who wanted to help.
For more information, call the Jensen family at (509) 468-0654.
Formal dedication ceremony planned at new Westview
The Spokane Public Schools board of directors, administrators, and the staff and students at Westview Elementary School, 3520 W. Bismark Ave., will hold the school’s formal dedication Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m.
The ceremony will include a presentation and a thank-you to the Spokane community. Westview’s renovation is the first major school modernization project to be completed of those included in the 2009 bond.
Fundraiser Saturday to showcase Ferris dance team performances
The Ferris High School Dance Team will have its first performance of the season on Saturday in the new Ferris Commons. There will be a matinee at 2 p.m. with an evening show and dinner at 7 p.m.
The dancers will entertain visitors with “15 Minutes … What would you do?” The dance theater event is a benefit to support activities for the dance team throughout the year.
Tickets for the dinner and dance show are $15 for adults, $8 for children 12 and younger, and $50 for a family of five. Matinee tickets are $8 per person.
To buy tickets and for more information, call April Williams at (509) 701-5412 or email williamsapril@yahoo.com.
KSPS airs forum tonight with schools superintendent Redinger
Residents will have an opportunity to have questions answered about Spokane Public Schools when “Ask the Superintendent” airs tonight from 7 to 7:30 p.m. on KSPS TV channel 7.
Superintendent Shelley Redinger will respond to questions and comments from the public.
To ask a question, text or call (509) 354-7711 or email AskTheSuperintendent@ksps.org.
Spokane Public Schools cited for excellence in CyberPatriot
Spokane Public Schools has been designated as the third CyberPatriot Center of Excellence by the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot program.
Eight teams from four schools in the district participated in the CyberPatriot IV competition last year, and seven made the finals in Washington, D.C.
“CyberPatriot gives our students an introduction and training in computer defense. They get practical, hands-on application and a chance to show their skills in a national-level competition. These skills are needed in today’s world and can turn into well paying jobs,” said William Patton, aerospace science instructor at Rogers High School, in a news release.
CyberPatriot is a high school cyber-defense competition. It is also described as the AFA’s flagship science, technology, engineering and mathematics program dedicated to strengthening cyber skills of students.
Staff, administrators begin school year in new posts
The new school year means new positions for some Spokane Public Schools administrators and staff members.
Among the new assignments:
• Maile Aden , Logan Elementary principal
• Ramon Alvarez , manager of hiring, support and conciliation for Human Resources
• Steven Gering , chief academic officer
• Brett Hale , Rogers High School assistant principal
• Tennille Jeffries-Simmons , chief human resources officer
• Leisa Lybbert , Willard Elementary principal
• Lisa Pacheco , Ridgeview Elementary principal
• Karin Ray , reading/kindergarten coordinator
• Heather Richardson , Stevens Elementary principal
• Anne Wolfley , professional learning coordinator