Page 1
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
DOME SCHOOL TIMES
Why the long fence?
Volume 1, Number 1 - Published twice yearly since today
Story, page 2
End of an era:
Goodbye and thanks,
Teacher Katherine!
The year was 1989. Chris Evert had played
her last US Open and the cost of a gallon of gas
crept above one dollar. Tiananmen Square was
fresh in the news, while the fall of the Berlin
Wall was still a few months away. The president
was George Bush—the first one—and here in
the Illinois Valley, Katherine Roncalio began
teaching at the Dome School. This week, after
27 years, she concludes her tenure.
According to school board minutes from
August 1989, “The board discussed the adding
to the staff of Debbie Murphy and Katherine
Roncalio. It was decided to pay Katherine $250
per month. Her hours will be 12:30 – 3:30.”
Of course, her workload and hours expanded
substantially in the following years, though
perhaps her pay didn’t get all that much better.
(Sorry, Katherine!)
Deborah Murphy recalls their time together
fondly. “I taught side by side with Katherine.
We went to the beach, the river, the mountains,
museums, and theatres—learning all the way.
We taught the children all kinds of things and
they taught us.”
Regarding Katherine, Deborah notes, “She
is amazingly talented. Through the years she
created giant papier-mache sculptures: a giant
King Tut, the Roman twins Romulus and Remus,
an ox from the Oregon Trail! Katherine has a
heart of gold, the passion of an Italian woman,
and the hands of Michelangelo.”
In addition to her elementary class duties,
Katherine taught for the Rangers after-school
program for many years. According to Sarah
Kuhn, a former board member and teacher and
current parent, “Whether she was filling two
hundred water balloons, bringing her pony for
us to groom and ride, creating a nature trail, or
helping kids with homework, Katherine always
threw her body, heart, and mind into it.”
One of Sarah’s fondest memories of Rangers
is when she and Katherine quite literally threw
their bodies into things. For several years, part
of the year end celebration included a food fight.
“We collected a large pile of undesirable food
products,” she says. “Outdated sauerkraut and
relish, strange flavors of Jello and pudding,
heaps of overcooked spaghetti. The kids stood
behind two long rows of tables piled with food.
The Rangers staff, which included Katherine
and myself, slowly walked between the ranks of
the children who delightedly hurled handfuls
of noodles and pickles at us. We laughed and
laughed, careful not to open our mouths or eyes
too wide. It was messy. It was raucous. It was
fun.”
Such activity was more than just teachers
and students having fun, however; it was
an educational philosophy. As Sarah says,
“Katherine believes in the value of play as a
powerful teaching tool which promotes skill-
building, problem-solving, and creative social
relationships. Empowering the kids in these
ways, Rangers became a very special, kid-
centered society.”
Susan Gustafson, school administrator and a
longtime colleague of Katherine’s, witnessed this
first hand. She recalls a former Rangers student
returning to the school many years later to tell
Katherine that she really made a big difference
in his life, helping point him in a positive
direction, during a time of struggle. “Katherine
doesn’t cry much, but I think it brought tears to
her eyes.”
Katherine was also known for coordinating
the annual school Bike-A-Thon fundraisers
in September and the Martin Luther King
Jr. celebrations in January, with the latter
demonstrating a focus on social justice issues
and history which she brings to the classroom.
According to Ryan Forsythe, current parent
and school co-administrator, “My boys started
at the school in September 2013 and two weeks
later, Rep. DeFazio came to town. Katherine
mobilized the students and parents to be
outside the county building rallying in support
of the trees. (See photo, below). The fact that
the first field trip of the year was a protest/rally
confirmed for me that the Dome School was a
special place and the right place for my family.”
Empowering students with her love of
play and sharing her deep respect for justice,
diversity, and the environment, Katherine will
be sorely missed. But she will remain part of the
Dome School family. For just as she concludes
teaching in the elementary, her granddaughter
prepares to enter the same classroom, having
completed Kindergarten this week.
Deborah Murphy sums things up best:
“Katherine’s love of learning will continue as
she leaves this phase of her life and moves on to
the next set of adventures. Thanks for sharing
so much with me, the children, families and
community. Much love!”
Yes, thank you so much, Katherine. On behalf
of present and past students, families, school
board, and staff, thank you for your dedication
to our children for so many years. Until we meet
again...Happy (Oregon) Trails to you!
ABOVE: Katherine Roncalio teaching at the school during a
lesson on the Renaissance.
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Barter Faire
to return June 17, 18, & 19
Three days of music, fun, kids with rocks
This summer on June 17th, 18th, and 19th, the Hope
Mountain Barter Faire will be returning for its 14th year. For
people who haven’t been, the Barter Faire is three days of
buying, bartering, selling, awesome bands and music, dancing,
talking, booths, good food, and having kids come up to you and
ask if you would like to buy some rocks (such as me).
I go to the Barter Faire with my mom and dad every year and
it’s really fun. When I arrive I usually find some of my friends
trying to sell rocks and accompany them for a while.
We like to play various games like zombie tag, hide and seek,
or just regular tag. It’s a lot more fun with all the rows of tents
to duck behind, or run in between, and it’s always easy to start a
game because almost every kid I know who lives in the Illinois
Valley is there.
I can go to the kids village if I get bored and get on the
swings, but getting bored is rare. I am not an adult, so I do not
know if it is fun for them (it could suck), but from a kid’s point
of view (or at least mine), Barter Faire is awesome.
For those who are thinking about skipping it, remember that
it raises money for my school, the Dome School and we need
your help funding it.
For more information go to hopemountainbarterfaire.org,
which has been recently updated to include an A-Z telling more
about the Faire and there’s a gallery of t-shirts and posters.
(This year’s poster is on the left. It was done by my dad, Ryan
Forsythe.)
Hope to see you this summer!
by Rory Forsythe-Elder
Senior 5th Grade Correspondent
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Oregon Caves Chevron
Celebrating 30 Years in Business
- Jeff & Karen Stiles -
409 Redwood Hwy
Cave Junction
OR 97523
(541) 592-3080
