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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2016)
22 Spring 2016 Applegater NEXT GENERATION APPLEGATE SCHOOL “Next Generation” features the talents of our local students and school news and updates. All schools in the Applegate Valley are encouraged to submit news, art, writing, photography and any other creative pieces to gater@applegater.org. RUCH SCHOOL Ruch School students partner with JCFC to provide firewood to needy Earlier this year, Ruch Community School students Anna Rabe-Hemming, Zach Goodnough, and their teacher, Ryan King, were invited to give the closing remarks at the Climate Change Summit held at The Commons in Medford, Oregon. It was there that Anna and Zach impressed members in the audience so much that they were approached to represent Ruch School in a partnership with the Jackson County Fuel Committee (JCFC). Preparing firewood for needy families are, from left to The collaboration would result in a right, Cassandra Auker, Bart Hawkins, Alexis Hodge, Maddie Strain, Vincent Delgado, and service project that provided much- principal Julie Barry. Photo: Matt Epstein. needed firewood to the families of the Applegate Valley. Ruch Community School’s mission of thinning on the overall health of the includes providing service learning for forest. They were taught how to safely their students so that they may identify handle tools, such as axes and splitters, the needs of their community and then and how to successfully work with a be engaged in experiences that would team. They learned that they can be part of something greater than themselves and help facilitate health and wellness. Anna put it this way: “I like provide assistance to others. Anna summed it up best: “We love, participating in these activities because it warms my heart seeing someone smile. we care, we share.” Ruch Community School would It makes me feel good that I was able to like to thank the Jackson County help my community!” On Monday, January 11, students Fuel Committee, our neighbors and from Ruch Community School, members community members of Applegate of JCFC, and Applegate Valley volunteers Valley, and our parents and students began their task of preparing trees for for the hard work and compassion they firewood that would be offered, free of have for their community! Many thanks charge, to families needing warmth in to Bart Hawkins with Keller Williams their homes. Students were involved in Realty for involving himself and his chopping, splitting, stacking, loading, family in this worthwhile project. Anna Rabe-Hemming and ultimately delivering the wood. In Julie Hill Barry addition to the actual labor, students Principal, Ruch Community School met with the JCFC and learned about julie.barry@medford.k12.or.us the health of our trees and the results Applegate School students to contribute to park mural What’s over 25 feet long, brings a tear to parents’ eyes, and something Applegate School students will want to show their own children some day? Well, nothing quite yet, but it’s in the works! Applegate School K-8 students will work with local artist Jeremy Criswell to create a ceramic mural for Cantrall Buckley Park. The students will be given clay to create their individual contributions. When combined with students’ pieces from other local schools, the park-themed ceramic mural will be over 25 feet long! The mural project is sponsored by the Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation’s Park Committee at no cost to the school and is incorporated as part of the Applegate Artist-in-Residence (AAiR) initiative. Applegate students have already enjoyed creating art as part of the AAiR initiative this past October when art teacher Joan Kennedy spent a week with K-8 students teaching watercolor Applegate middle school students brave rain, mud, cold to benefit river The many thousands of salmon and trout that will swim by Cantrall Buckley Park in the future won’t know it, but they will have the students of Applegate School to thank for a nice, comfortable stretch of cool water. The endangered western pond-turtle population might also consider drafting a thank-you note to the students—their home on the Applegate River got just a bit cozier this past January, when students and members of the Park Committee partnered to plant native trees and shrubs along the riverbanks. Students in grades six through eight braved cold, wet weather to participate in a “service-learning project” in what Applegate School teacher Jill calls a “habitat-restoration-in-the-mud-and- rain day.” This school year has been a “Year of the River” for Applegate’s middle school students. In multiple trips to the Applegate River, students have studied watershed science and health, the natural history of rivers, various modern problems facing rivers, and fresh drinking water supplies. On one much dryer day, students also visited Herb Pharm in Williams to witness firsthand how agriculture can coexist with healthy stream sustainably. For Jill and her middle-school Applegate middle school students plant native trees and shrubs along the river at Cantrall Buckley Park. teaching partner, Michelle Stone, the extra effort involved in taking learning outside is well worth it. As Howdyshell said, “Students may or may not remember the formula for how to find the surface area of a cylinder in the future, but without a doubt, when they return to Cantrall Buckley Park many years from now, they will remember that they planted those red-twig dogwoods on the shores of the Applegate River.” Good things can happen when schools partner with organizations in the community, and this event was no exception. Darrell Erb Jr., Principal Applegate and Williams Schools darrell.erb@threerivers.k12.or.us Applegate School’s Concert in the Barn fundraiser slated for April 17 Musicians Kevin Carr and Josie Mendelsohn will be featured at the Concert in the Barn on Sunday, April 17, at 3 pm, that will benefit the Applegate School Artist-in-Residence (AAiR) initiative. Students from the Applegate choir and Strings Program will also perform. Students may share original poetry and writings and perform in a “reader’s theater.” Organizers and hosts Fred and Jean Hall are busy convincing local artists to donate a piece of art for the silent auction at this event. Art from Applegate School students will also be for sale this year. “This event is amazing! It’s a jaw-dropping effort that Fred and Jean make each year to put this together,” said Darrell Erb, principal of Applegate School. “I really urge folks to come out for this. Kevin and Josie are truly amazing, and our kids will be on hand to perform as well, so please get out and support them! “The AAiR initiative is an important part of our school,” said Darrell. “We’re hopeful to broaden our base of support and expand our enrichment offerings for our students. The benefits of students doing art are tremendous and lifelong.” The concert will once again be held at Fred and Jean Hall’s barn at 950 Kubli Road, Grants Pass. 2015 volleyball team to be placed on Applegate School’s Wall of Fame The 2015 volleyball team will join other undefeated Applegate Cougars teams on the Wall of Fame in the school’s gymnasium. The 2015 team went 10-0 against stiff competition in the Southern Oregon Middle School Athletic Conference, Small Schools Division. Coaches Heather Devos and Sandi Garoutte are no strangers to the Wall of Fame—their 2013 club also posted an undefeated record. Applegate School first-grader Emily Sumrall works on a bug painting with Artist-in- Resident Joan Kennedy. Photo: Linda Kappen. painting. K/1 students painted bugs, 2/3 students created salmon, 4/5 students chose a “view out of the window” theme, and middle school students chose a watershed theme to dovetail with the Applegate River Field Study. Darrell Erb Jr., Principal For more information about this field study, see “Applegate School students up to their knees in study” on page 22 of the Winter 2015 Applegater at www.applegater.org. Applegate School’s 2015 “Wall of Fame” volleyball team, from left to right: Bree Saunders, Carlen Nielsen, Johanna Devos, Marisa Elmore, Teryn Powers, Coty Wiginton, Kennedy Smock, Kaiah Fisher, Alia Seal, Macy Kliewer, Sydney Locke, and Alyssa Seal.
