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Page 2
lune I, 2011
Character
Matters
c o n t i n u e d f r o m fr o n t
confident that he will im prove their k id s’
m oves on the m at, but he will prep them with
skills for life in a fam ily-like atm osphere free
o f ju dgm ents and com parisons.
“O ne thing I learned w as that it’s ok to
fail,” said Sean N ew bury w ho first cam e to
P ittm an’s club in 1986. “C om ing here and
understanding w hat a positive attitude can
do - i t changed my perspective.”
N ew bury began living w ith his g ran d ­
m other after his parents left him for drugs and
alcohol. She thought h er grandson could
use som e character, so she drove him o v er to
Peninsula Park and from then on, N ew b u ry ’s
glass w ent from half-em pty to h a lf full.
L ike m any o f his p rev io u s w restlers,
N ew bury returned to Pittm an, (once a Pitt
w restler alw ays a Pitt w restler), only this tim e
w ith his 9 year-old son, Alex.
“H e ’s a really nice co ach ,” said A lex
N ew bury w ho started w restling in the club at
age 6.
P eninsula w restlers range from ages 4 to
18, som e are there to release energy, others
are aspiring cham pions o f the sport, but all
have com e to respect Pittm an and trust him
as a coach, m entor, m otivator, and role model.
T he coach encourages parents to w ork
w ith him directly in ord er to b etter u n d er­
stand their c h ild ’s natural need for rough and
tum ble play and foster th eir goals o f b eco m ­
ing successful w restlers and students.
‘T o me, this is one solution to the gang
problem ,” said Pittm an, “Reaching them at a
young age and also, working with the fam ily.”
O ne parent says her ch ild has learned to
control his em otions and becom e m ore in
PHOTO BY CARI H a CHMANN/T h E PORTLAND OBSERVER
Peninsula wrestling coach Roy Pittman works with local kids helping them transform their natural need for rough and tumble
play with becoming successful wrestlers and students.
touch w ith him self. H e is able to better
verbalize his opinions to his parents, control
his diet, and not quit w hen things get tough,
she said.
U nder the Peninsula W restling C lu b ’s
Proper Etiquette: G ood M anners rules, the
young w restlers are encouraged to conduct
proper m anners including daily hygiene; how
to greet and open doors fo r people; shut o ff
cell phones and electronic devices; and fo l­
low “tournam ent b eh av io r” w hich applies
anyw here in public.
T able m anners, sw earing, staring, b u lly ­
ing, interrupting, ignoring others, and w ear­
ing respectable clo th in g are o th er topics
addressed in the good m anner guide.
A s part o f the O regon W restling A ssocia­
tion, P ittm an ’s club m eets all o v er the state.
Such extensive traveling gives his young
people the opportunity to com pete w ith clubs
o f all levels, but it also helps them learn how
to be responsible individuals w ho can present
them selves m aturely and represent the club
in a positive m anner.
T he local com m unity is encouraged to
support the P eninsula W restling C lub with
tw o future fundraisers.
A rum m age sale w ith treasures from m ore
than 30 fam ilies w ill be held on Saturday,
June 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 18201 S.E. Stark
St. ; and a ca r wash will be held at the Burgerville
restaurant at 10903 N .E. Fourth Plain Blvd. in
V ancouver on Sunday, June 12 from 10 am .
to 4 p.m .
A ll the proceeds w ill help the team w ith
travel expenses fo r the W estern R egionals in
Pocatello, Idaho. F o r m ore inform ation or if
you have any questions, contact B ridget at
360433-8174
Making Kids
c o n t i n u e d f r o m fr o n t
origin, im m igration status, sexual
orientation and gender, a healthy
kid learns better.
“ W e serve all school aged youth
w ith in M u ltn o m a h C o u n t y ,”
D aniels said. “ A nd we really take a
look at how health is affecting a
c h ild ’s ability to do well in sch o o l.”
She said the school centers are
set apart from prim ary care m edicine
because o f the “educational lens to
the care we provide.”
O pen M onday through Friday,
the centers contribute to learning
readiness, which optim izes the learn­
ing environm ent.
“ W h at w e know a b o u t h e alth
d is p a r itie s is th a t h ig h sch o o l
g ra d u a tio n is o n e o f th e g re a t
e q u a liz e rs,” D aniels said, e x p la in ­
in g how sch o o l-b a se d h e a lth c a re
c an hav e a p o sitiv e ro le in y o u n g
p e o p le d o in g b e tte r in sch o o ls,
w h ic h in tu rn allo w s th e m to have
m o re c h o ic e s and a b e tte r c h an ce
at g e ttin g a liv in g w ag e jo b as an
^^^Inrtlanb (Observer
Established 1970
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a d u lt.
state from $ 150,000to$250,000a year
A ccording to the O regon H ealth to m aintain. A lthough for every one
A u th o rity , th e c e n te rs p ro v id e o f th o se dollars, three to four addi­
healthcare access to more than45,000 tional dollars are attained in other
students, and in som e instances funding and donations, the future
a ls o p r o v id e s e r v ic e s to th e fin a n c ial re so u rce s to k e ep the
stu d en t’s siblings and fam ily m e m ­ health centers operating rem ain a
bers.
significant concern.
M ultnom ah C ounty opened their
“I f s really critical to look at how
first school-based health cen ter at w e can w ork together,” said Daniels.
R oosevelt H igh School in 1986.
"W e believe in the connection b e­
The O regon D epartm ent o f H u ­ tw een health and education in suc­
m an Services provides support for cess and in life.”
the centers w hich can each cost the
Staffed like a local pediatrician or
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fam ily practice, the offices em ploy i
receptionist, nurse, clinical provider
and at som e sites, qualified m enta
health professionals.
A lthough som etim es m isunder
stood, D aniels ex plained the re ­
sources and care available is much
b roader than contraceptive health
A cco rd in g to the School Based
H ealth C are netw ork, SB H C s also
provide quality prim ary and m ental
health services in schools.
“W e try to w ork w ith youth to
m ake sure they understand clearly
the resources available to them ,”
D aniels explained.
U ntreated chronic health issues
affect stu d en t’s ability to learn and
participate in sports and activities,
w hich consequently im pacts their
peer relationships, mental health and
stress-lev els.
“The things w e do are for the
future o f the student,” D aniels said.
“ A nd w hile w e provide a full range
o f prim ary care, we c o u ld n ’t do the
w ork that w e do w ithout being in the
s c h o o ls.”