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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2019)
MAY 3, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 Invisalign & Traditional Braces Customized Financing FOR A FREE CONSULT CALL 503.362.0500 www.haveagreatsmile.com orthodontics mor children, adolescents & adults Truly Amazing Smiles SCHOOLHOUSE SQUARE 5099 RIVER ROAD N, KEIZER for kids by kids Keizer kids pitch in to clean up BY MATT RAWLINGS Of No Adults Allowed Hannah Wonderly and Nicole Schnurbusch are both seventh graders at Whiteaker Middle School that enjoy going to Wallace House Park and kayaking on the Willamette River. However, during a particular trip in early- April, the two girls noticed the vast amount of trash that was on both sides of the river — as well as in the river. “It was disgusting. There was trash everywhere,” Schnurbusch said. “We couldn’t go two steps without seeing a piece of garbage.” But instead of just ignoring it, Schnurbusch and Wonderly decided to step up to make a diff erence. After kayaking only a mile, the two middle schoolers were able to pick up nearly 13 pounds of broken bottles, rotten meat and other unpleasantries in the river. Submitted Nicole Schnurbusch (lemt) and Hannah Wonderly (right) picked up almost 13 pounds om trash amter spending an amternoon kayaking on the Willamette River. It’s no secret that global warming in this country has been a hot topic among political pundits in recent years, and it has served as part of the motivation for these girls to try and help clean up their community. “I have been really interested in helping the environment because I’m really big on global Teacher Appreciation Day is May 7! Here’s a way to thank yours When thinking of gifts for a teacher, there are many possibilities. Homemade gifts or notes always go a long way. Keeping in mind that some teachers have allergies or are uncomfortable accepting baked goods, a simple craft can be a cute and meaningful gift. In the 1700s parents had to pay the teacher for their children’s education. Some of the poorer families would give a basket of apples instead of money. What you’ll need: An empty toilet paper roll Red and green construction paper Cut the red paper into one inch strips. Cut a little (half an inch or so) off the end of the strips. Cut a leaf out of the green paper. Tape the end of the paper to the inside of the roll, crease it so that it has a fl at surface to lay on. Tape the other side into the top of the roll. Tape the leaf on top and you’re set. warming,” Schnurbusch said. “In the future, I defi nitely want a job that helps (stop) global warming.” Both Wonderly and Schnurbusch are also very conscious of the impact that excessive litter can have on animals and wildlife. “I really enjoy taking care of animals, and litter badly aff ects animals,” Wonderly said. “I enjoy picking up litter to make the environment a better place and I thought the river would be a good place to do that because there is a lot of trash there.” But this is not just a one- time thing for Wonderly and Schnurbusch. The two girls plan to kayak the river once a week to pick up as much trash as they can. They also are in the process of doing global warming related service projects with Faith Lutheran Church. “We want to encourage people to get outside and pick up one piece of trash, because if everyone just can pick up one piece, we could all make a big diff erence,” Wonderly said. Honoring a teacher who made a diff erence BY LAUREN MURPHY Of No Adults Allowed The average kid spends about six hours a day in school; in Oregon there is about 165 days of school in the school year. By the time someone graduates from kindergarten to senior year, they will have spent about 12,870 hours in the classroom. With so much time spent in schools, there is ample opportunity to meet and interact with teachers. Anyone who’s ever had an amazing teacher can tell you it makes all the diff erence. Why should we appreciate teachers? “The relationships I’ve established with children and parents are priceless,” said Claggett Creek Middle School teacher, Brad Dixon, “Teaching is a great job for someone who wants to be Superman.” “The thrill of fostering an “aha” moment in a young person, watching furrowed eyebrows turn to wide eyes as something mysterious becomes real is addictive,” Dixon said. But those moments require a lot of hard work, preparation and patience. “The rewards of teaching can’t be reduced to a single item,” he said, “I want every student to be the next president, an astronaut, my accountant, my friend.” Teachers who go beyond the core curriculum and care about students have one of the hardest jobs of all. “I wish that every student knew I was trustworthy and I have their best interests at heart. Not all students come from places where there are adults that are Mr. Dixon safe to trust” Dixon said, “I am concerned about my students more than they can imagine and probably more than is healthy.” Think about the teachers that you know who go above and beyond to make school engaging and interesting. The ones who encourage you to follow your dreams; however outlandish they may seem. As this Teacher Appreciation Day comes, May 7, take a little time to tell them what they mean to you.
