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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2020)
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 KeizerCommunity Former Celt fi lling old coach’s shoes KEIZERTIMES.COM Grant Kessel takes over for Whiteaker’s Scott Coburn File Grant Kessel as a member of the McNary High School varsity basketball team in 2009. “He was so great at building BY MATT RAWLINGS relationships with his students Of the Keizertimes When Grant Kessel was and that is what I strive to do as a freshman at McNary High a teacher,” Kessel said. “He left School, he wrote down that such a legacy here. My goal is to one of his future goals was to build off his legacy and eventu- be a physical education teacher ally build one of my own.” All his life, Kessel has been in Keizer. Fifteen years later, that goal an incredibly sports-minded person. He was a three-sport has become a reality. Kessel, who has been a P.E. athlete at McNary, playing foot- ball, basketball and teacher at Houck golf in all four years Middle School since of his career. Kessel 2014, will be re- also played Ameri- turning to the place can Legion baseball, where he once at- and was even on the tended junior high club lacrosse squad as he will be taking when he was a stu- over as the P.E teach- dent at Western Or- er at Whiteaker Mid- egon Universtiy. dle School this fall. “I have always “I’m so excited to Grant Kessel had a passion for be teaching in Keizer sports and fi tness and at Whiteaker. I know I have some big shoes to and I love that I am able to share that passion with kids,” fi ll,” Kessel said. The shoes Kessel is referring Kessel said. A lot of Kessel’s classes re- to are those of Scott Coburn, who was the P.E instructor at volve around individual and Whiteaker for 27 years before team sports. While he is re- quired to teach sessions of retiring in the spring. Kessel says Coburn had a commonly known sports, such big impact on his life and mo- as volleyball or basketball, Kes- tivated him to become a middle sel says he really enjoys intro- ducing his students to pickle- school P.E. teacher. ball, ultimate frisbee, handball and badminton. While he was at Houck, Kessel also applied for and re- ceived a grant from the school district to get nine disc golf cages, allowing him to set up different courses around the school. “I really enjoy teaching kids fun sports that they may have never played before. These ar- en’t sports they are going to play in high school, but they are sports that they can play for the rest of their life,” Kessel said. As a former athlete, Kessel has a high energy, hands-on style of teaching, but creating relationships is the most crucial What and where to donate for Oregon fi re evacuees United Way is collecting all donations for fi re evacuees at 1330 Front Street N.E. in Sa- lem. These were the most urgent needs at press time: Masks, durable work gloves, denture brush and cleaning tab- lets, reading glasses, pumps for mattresses, camp chairs, fl ash- lights, batteries, bleach wipes, cleaning supplies, disinfect- We Didn’t Set The Bar WE ARE THE BAR! “ This community is beautiful and the whole staff is so attentive and caring! The atmosphere is engaging and respectful and it is so good to know that Mom is in such good hands. I would highly recommend this community to anyone! ” part of his teaching style. “I feel like I’m a very rela- tionship-oriented. You have to get the kids to buy into you before they can buy into your class,” Kessel said. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kessel, along with the rest of the instructors in the district will be teaching all-on- line for at least the fi rst nine weeks of the year. While he, and other P.E. in- structors are still attempting to fi gure out how they will facil- itate classes virtually, Kessel is confi dent that he can be cre- ative enough to make it work. “We’re thinking about hav- ing the kids fi ll out activity logs and pre-record their workouts. After being in a chair all day, we just want to fi gure out what is the best way to keep them ac- tive,” Kessel said. Even though the start of the school year will be completely abnormal, Kessel is still elated to back in his old stomping grounds. “It’s still surreal. The reality hasn’t quite hit me yet, and I don’t think it will until we’re back in the building. But I’m so thrilled to be here,” Kessel said. ing spray, dishwashing spong- es, tents-all sizes, sleeping bags, strollers, lip balm, eye drops, antacid tablet, storage bags and reusable shipping bags. Meal donations are being scheduled through the Salva- tion Army by contacting Lt. Laura Fyn at 503-602-6454. All meals be served in individ- ual packaging to comply with CDC guidelines. A family-friendly church with something for everyone. We’re here for you. JOIN US AT OUR CAMPUS OR ONLINE Sundays 9:30 AM CountrysideChristianChurch.org 5775 Mcleod Ln, Keizer — HEIDI COUNTRYSIDE r ached t h e age of si i x t y -two. t ose who ha v e re v i n g f o r th Qual l i t y senior lil vi Christian Church 503.540.1989 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK Come See the Finest in Senior Living! CALL (503) 390 -1300 1165 McGee Ct NE, Keizer, OR • www.VillageAtKeizerRidge.com Helping people know and follow Jesus… one person at a time
