ATKINSON
Continued from Page 1A
“You are only as popular
as the day before you an-
nounce (your candidacy),”
Atkinson said.
The congressional can-
didate said he is a fi scal
conservative and not op-
posing tax increases would
be inconsistent with this
philosophy. Atkinson said he
also has strong conservative
stances on abortion and the
Second Amendment.
“I am 100% pro life and
have an A+ rating from the
NRA (National Rifl e Associa-
tion). These are easy topics
for me, my mind is made up,”
he said.
He is seeking to suc-
ceed Rep. Greg Walden,
the Republican from Hood
River who is not running
for reelection after serving
for two decades. Atkinson
credits Walden with having
an exemplary constituent
service record and said he
will try to emulate it.
“Eighty percent of the
job is constituent service,”
Atkinson said.
He said it is critical to
reach out to constituents
because those who contact
their Congressman often do
so as a last resort.
“If someone calls with a
problem, it is because their
lawyer and their pastor
could not fi x it,” Atkinson
said.
The candidate said he
would pull out all the stops
to help constituents.
“I would manipulate
things at the federal level
to get stuff done,” Atkinson
said.
While Atkinson lives in
Central Point, he said he
has strong ties to Northeast
Oregon because he has spent
CLIMATE
Continued from Page 1A
and Eric Richardson, Eugene-Springfi eld
NAACP president. Following speeches, the
demonstrators marched around the Capitol
chanting and waving signs baring messages
supporting the climate legislation. The event,
organized by the environmental group Re-
new Oregon, was a counterpart to a protest
in Salem last week organized by Timber
Unity.
Activists made the trek to Salem from
all parts of the state Tuesday, including
Dean Myerson who was part of a carload of
demonstrators who drove three hours from
The Dalles. Myerson said he believes Oregon
needs to lead the way on climate action.
“We can’t just wait for everybody else to
do something fi rst, which seems to be one of
the arguments; ‘we can’t do this alone,’ which
is true, but somebody has to start,” Myerson
said. “In Wasco County we had a series of
really bad fi res a couple years ago. A lot of
historic homes were destroyed, a farmer
died… There’s always been fi res, but climate
change is making them worse.”
Maia Stout, a 15-year-old from coastal
Yachats, explained to the crowd what
climate action means to her. For the past
several months, Stout — like 17-year-old
much time here fl y-fi shing
on the Grande Ronde River
and hunting.
“I’ve spent more time on
the Grande Ronde than I
should have,” Atkinson said
with a smile.
Atkinson, who has a num-
ber of friends in Union and
Wallowa counties, said he
has long been interested in
Eastern Oregon University,
La Grande, partly because
its administration building is
almost identical to the one at
Southern Oregon University
in Ashland, which he lives
near.
The candidate said it
would mean very much for
him to carry Union and Wal-
lowa counties in the upcom-
ing election because of his
ties to the region.
“It will be a point of pride
for me. I will be here (cam-
paigning) a lot,” Atkinson
said.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg — has
participated in the global youth climate
strike, standing outside her high school in
Newport every day Friday to bring atten-
tion to the issue.
“I advocate for climate action because I un-
derstand that the mistakes we’ve made don’t
fi x themselves,” Stout said. “I raised my voice
because I can’t vote for three more years and
time is running out.”
Coral Avery, 22, a student at Oregon State
University, is an enrolled member of the
Shawnee tribe of Oklahoma.
“Climate and natural resource use really
goes back to indigenous people,” Avery said.
“That’s the main reason why I’m here today, is
to represent, the best I can, represent my com-
munity and other indigenous communities who
have overall been left out of the conversation or
at least haven’t been centered in it before.”
Avery, who is involved in student govern-
ment at OSU, said that she has lobbied for
climate legislation for four years, since mov-
ing to Oregon. She said she was “most hope-
ful” for the bill that was proposed last year
but that it didn’t protect rural communities.
“And I’ve heard that, through reading it,
that it’s been revised in some ways to better
support them and look out for when things
change when polluters are held accountable
for their emissions,” Avery said.
Oregon Kindergarten Assessment 2019-2020
District
Early Math Approaches to Learning Early Literacy Early Literacy Early Literacy
(out of 16) (rating 1-5)
(uppercase) (lowercase) (sound recog)
State
11.0
3.6
14.3
11.6
7.7
La Grande
12.1
3.6
15.7
12.4
9.9
Union
10.9
3.8
15.9
14.6
15.8
North Powder 13.1
3.8
20.2
17.5
14.9
Imbler
10.6
2.9
19.5
15.4
12.4
Cove
12.3
4.2
15.8
13.2
8.4
Elgin
11.8
3.4
15.2
11.8
9.8
Source: Oregon Department of Education
SCHOOLS
Continued from Page 1A
kindergarten students at
the school are focused on
giving them an educational
foundation.
“Kindergarten is the
baseline,” Dunlap said.
“First through second grade
is where they really turn
things up.”
Dunlap and Westenskow
said the focus in kindergar-
ten is acclimating children
to a structured environment.
Oregon now has full-day
kindergarten classes, and
Westenskow said getting
through the seven-hour day
is sometimes the biggest
challenge. Mixing students
with different maturity and
knowledge levels also can
add hurdles.
Teacher aides and
maintaining small class
sizes that can break up into
even smaller groups, the
principals said, have helped
Greenwood achieve success
in teaching kindergartners.
“If we can get a kid to
make it through the day,
without falling asleep, who
can act (in) socially accept-
able (ways) and who has the
basics of reading, writing
and math, then that student
is on track,” Westenskow
said.
According to Dalton,
results can vary from school
to school or district to district
based upon a variety of
factors, including socio-
economic status, access to
quality early childhood pro-
THE OBSERVER — 5A
LOCAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
grams and experiences and
students who speak English
as a second language.
“They might vary from
year to year because the as-
sessment measures different
cohorts of students,” Dalton
said of the changes in rates.
“In addition, students could
do better if more supports
are provided each year.”
La Grande School District
has a kindergarten jump-
start program for students
who demonstrate a need for
additional help and atten-
tion. Those young students
can come into the school
during the summer before
classes begin to get used to
the new environment.
Dunlap noted having good
preschools in the area such
as Heidi Ho in La Grande
and Head Start can be ben-
efi cial to setting up a child
for success. Westenskow said
he has seen evidence that
students are more successful
when they have a supportive
environment that encour-
ages learning.
The NEA Big Read 2020 Schedule of Events
Wednesday, February 19, 7pm
KICKOFF: A Day of Remembrance with Chisao Hata
Enterprise Christian Church - Enterprise, Free Admission
Sunday, February 23 - 2 pm
Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kiyomi Oliver
Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Free Admission
Tuesday, February 25 - 6pm
Oregon's Japanese Americans - OPB Documentary
Screening and Discussion
Fishtrap, Free Admission
Saturday, February 29 - 9-10:30am
Haiku Poetry Workshop with Whitney Chandler
Fishtrap, Registration: Free - Limited to 12
Tuesday, March 3 - 12pm
How Do We Deal With Difference?
Brownbag with David Bruce
Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Free Admission
Wednesday, March 4 – 10:30am
Book Discussion
The Blythe Cricket, Joseph, Free Admission
Friday, March 7, 2-4pm
Big Read Youth Day
Art Center East, La Grande, Free Admission
Tuesday, March 10 - 7pm
How Do We Deal With Difference? with David Bruce
Wallowa City Hall, Free Admission
Wednesday, March 11 - 10:30am
Book Discussion
Fishtrap, Free Admission
Sunday, March 15, 1-3pm
Tea in the Gallery: Japanese Teas
Art Center East Gallery, La Grande, Registration $20/$25
Thursday, March 19 - 7pm
FINALE: Portland Taiko
OK Theatre, Enterprise
Adults: $10 - Seniors: $5 - Students: Free Admission
Friday, March 20 - 6:30-8:30pm
Snow Dye Shibori & Sake
Art Center East Gallery, La Grande, Registration $20/$25
541-786-8984
Alliance Self Storage
2105 E L Ave., La Grande • allianceselfstorage123@gmail.com
FAMILY
OWNED
Friday, March 20 - 9am
Portland Taiko Drum Workshop
Location TBD
Registration: $15 limited to 12
February 22, 29, March 7, 14 - 4-6pm
Union County Book Discussions
JaxDog Cafe & Books, La Grande, Free Admission
For the full BIG READ
schedule of events visit
FISHTRAP.ORG
215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440
northwestfurnitureandmattress.com