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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 2018)
8 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon SCIENCE: Sisters is ahead of the curve in education Continued from page 5 strong. In statewide science tests in 2017, the district was first in science scores in Central Oregon, and the 5th- grade students placed first in the state. However, com- pared to other states, science and math scores in Oregon are average, 21st to 31st of 46 states. Over the past eight years the Sisters community has helped enhance science in the schools through dona- tion of funds and volunteer- ing hours, as at the annual Science Fair. Some local businesses participate in the fair — Mohr Solutions, Innoviator, the Forest Service, and Fish and Game. Istar Stratospheric Ballooning offers class experiments. Energyneering Solutions and the Seed to Table program offer internships and train- ing for students — long-term STEM connections between school and community. The science teachers, bol- stered with community sup- port, have done well these past several years despite being buffeted hither and thither by state and national initiatives. Now, science education in Sisters is poised to grow even stronger. The new principal at the elementary school (Joan Warburg) and at the middle school (Alison Baglien) bring a depth of experience and strong leadership toward integrating NGSS and other curricula K-12. Parents in the elementary school are asking for afterschool science experi- ences for their kids. Parents in the middle school form clubs focused on robotics, math, butterflies and computer coding. Students in the high school search out educational experiences found nowhere else in Oregon: exploring sci- ence in nature’s wilderness; in the air with balloons, drones, telescopes and airplanes; in cancer research labs at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; and in exploring the miracu- lous growth of a seed into a vegetable. Science Club sets out for frontier this fall The Sisters Science Club will present lectures on watershed restoration, human genetics and climate change to launch the 2108- 19 Frontiers in Science series at The Belfry this fall. On Tuesday, September 25, Brad Chalfant, founder and CEO of the Deschutes Land Trust, will describe the internationally acclaimed work that is under way to restore Whychus Creek. On Tuesday, October 23, Barbara Handelin, Ph.D., founder and CEO of NovoKen in Malvern, PA, will speak on the challenges of human genetics research. On Tuesday, November 27, Steve Grossnickle, Ph.D., will address the topic of “Global Climate Change: A Tree’s Perspective.” Social hour for The Belfry lectures begins at 6 p.m. with light fare, beer, and wine available. Lectures begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $5; annual donors, teachers and students are admitted free. The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave., Sisters. For more information: www.sistersscienceclub. org. Seed to Table to raise $15,000 An anonymous donor has stepped forward to assist Seed to Table in raising funds to augment its programing by adding an education coordi- nator. The donor has offered to provide $15,000 each year over the next three years if Seed to Table can match the donation. The addition of an educa- tion coordinator would be a “huge boost” for the organiza- tion, according to Executive Director Audrey Tehan. Since its inception in 2013, Seed to Table has grown to edu- cate nearly 1,300 students throughout Central Oregon each year. In addition, S2T feeds an average of 150 fami- lies each week through food banks, schools, and the local community. However, Tehan reports that the organiza- tion is constantly receiving requests from adults and stu- dents for increased education and fresh foods. “We would love to be able to support our community’s growing desire for fresh foods and hands-on education,” said Tehan. In addition to expand- ing current programming, an education coordinator would step in to replace an impor- tant nutrition and science program that had been pro- vided at Sisters Elementary School through Seed to Table’s partnership with Food Corps, an AmeriCorps[JT1] program. Because the two-year pro- gram has ended, S2T’s educa- tion coordinator would step in BARBECUES ARE WINDING DOWN AND THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL PHOTO PROVIDED Seed to Table provides both food and education in Sisters. to the fill that gap, according to Tehan. Seed to Table program- ming is a critical factor in having the top science scores in the state. — Superintendent Curt Scholl “This really important program is now up and run- ning, and I would hate for that all just to end,” said Tehan. According to School Superintendent Curt Scholl, “Seed to Table program- ming is a critical factor in our schools having the top science scores in the state.” Seed to Table has until October 1 to raise the match- ing funds and is hoping to cel- ebrate meeting the challenge goal at its Fall Harvest Dinner coming up on September 15. Donations can be mailed to Seed to Table Oregon, P.O. Box 1812, Sisters, OR 97759. For more information on the dinner and contributing to the meet the challenge grant, visit www.seedtotableoregon.org. Sisters Fall Street Festival Downtown Sisters • Oak Street & Main Avenue September 1 & 2, 2018 Saturday 10-5 • Sunday 10-4 TIME TO CLEAN THE CARPETS! Free Event Variety of Arts, Crafts & Antiqu es s N FOOD • BEER GARDEN Labor Day Play Clothes! 351 W. HOOD AVE. (Across from Ms. Sew-It-All) Hrs.: M, Tu, Th, Fr, Sa 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Su 1-4 p.m.; Closed Wed. • The Th small ll f footprint t i t and d straight-forward controls make the Clean Track 12 easy to operate, maneuver, and transport. 506 N. Pine St. 541-549-9631 Sales • Service Rentals • Accessories www.sistersrental.com Live Entertainment with Scott Brown Saturday & Sunday Fundraiser Benefi tting A Local Charity an ks to Specia l Gar th den RV Resort, Live Music rs rs Bend/Siste Mix 100.7, Siste 9, KSJJ 102. dian Head Casino, , re In Ti l, Renta , Davis live & Nut Sisters O Print Solutions, Centro Channel 21 ab, News Les Schw Family Fun! For information: 541-420-0279 or 541-213-9362 www.CentralOregonShows.com
