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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2018)
4 Wednesday, February 21, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon ‘Winter Olympics’ come to Sisters Middle School Hollie Lewis keeps her eyes on the prize. PHOTO BY LORIEL COOK All of the Winter Olympics action isn’t in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Students at Sisters Middle School staged their own ver- sion last week. The event opened with a moment of silence to honor the students and coach who died the day before in a school shooting in Florida. “I spoke briefly about real- izing what we have in Sisters and how we need to take care of each other, stand in the gap for each other — no one eats alone,” said leadership coordi- nator Becky Aylor. “The entire student body was still; it was moving.” Twelve Olympians were randomly chosen to repre- sent their grade levels, and the event they competed in was then assigned. SMS American Flag, Olympic Flag, Leadership Flag and each grade level with their flag made a lap around the gym before finding their seats in the center of the gym “track.” Alessandra Wentworth, an eighth-grader, offered a beautiful a capella rendition of the National Anthem, as all students, staff and Olympians stood, removed their hats and helmets and honored our flag and what it stands for. Leadership students gave a history of when and how the Olympics began and set the stage for the five make- shift Winter Olympics events. Speed skating (rollerblad- ing, which some students had never tried) was the first event, with each of the two grade level athletes mak- ing one lap around the track. Speed skaters take on the Olympic track. PHOTO BY LORIEL COOK Leadership students staged the procession of the Points were given based on how they placed. The next event was the Alpine long jump which included 30 feet of Hot Wheel track, a ladder and Lego people with popsicle stick skis glued on the top of the Hot Wheel. Unfortunately, the 1973 VW Bus could not stay on the track, thus the sixth-grad- ers experienced the agony of defeat, placing last in this event. The eighth-graders came in first place in the skeleton — laying on a long board skateboard and pushing off the wall with their feet. “A highlight was the enthusiasm from fifth- grader Spencer Tisdel with his curling fashion state- ment — with a wild outfit, huge wig and larger attitude to go with it,” Aylor reported. Curling involved launch- ing frozen milk jugs to a tar- get with the ability to bump an opponent’s jug off course. The final event was the five-per- son bobsled race. The event featured flat scooters (think furniture movers) zip-tied together with one Olympian on each sled and one player pushing the train twice around the track. “There was a collision on turn one and some possible unethical cheating and jock- eying for position,” Aylor reported. “Although the race was thrilling and so very close — it was indeed the seventh- grade team who came in first place, which secured them the Gold overall.” The Silver was awarded to the eighth-grade team and the fifth-graders shined by bring- ing home the Bronze. Thunder, the school horse mascot, made an appearance. All 36 athletes were awarded medals, and smiles were had by all. Aylor later said that the entire PE class of Mr. Larson also should have receive gold medals for taking care of breaking down the event while other students headed to core classes. “I’m very proud of our students who were respectful Weekly Saloon Shindigs! Monday Paint Party 6-8 p.m., $35 Tuesday Trivia Night 6:15 p.m. Wednesday Poker Night 7 p.m., $20 Thursday Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to Midnight Saturday Live Band 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday Open Mic Night 8 to 10 p.m. (1st & 3rd Sunday) Torin Greaney makes a skeleton run. PHOTO BY LORIEL COOK fans and for the teachers and staff who support events that bring us all together for some education on the Olympics and to learn how to be winners and how to be good sports when you go home with noth- ing,” Aylor noted. Spencer Tisdel drew kudos for curling — and costume. PHOTO BY LORIEL COOK Frontiers In Science MONTHLY SYMPOSIUM IN SISTERS Undamming the Elwha: A River Revived Jerry Freilich, Ph.D. Dr. Jerry Freilich was chief of research for Olympic National Park during the largest dam removals in U. S. history, a project that is now returning the Elwha River to its much wilder former life – often in unexpected ways. Dr. Freilich has devoted his life to research and science education throughout a long career with the National Park Service. The planning for the Elwha River dam removals took decades; the actual work, completed in 2014, had taken several years, and the restoration of the river will fl ow far into the future. Dr. Freilich will share the ongoing story of the Elwha – its turbulent history and emerging future, the effects of the dams on the ecosystem and the Lower Elwha Kallam Tribe, impacts on the local economy, and changes in the river’s delta on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Tuesday, February 27 At The Belfry, 302 E. Main Ave., Sisters One-hour lecture begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. for community hour! Admission: $5; Science Club Donors, Teachers and Students - FREE 541-549-RIBS SistersSaloon.net 190 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters Save the Date: Tues., March. 27 Dr. Larry Price: “Gravitational Waves: The Discovery of the Century” Bring your curiosity and an appetite for food, drink & knowledge!
