'NOVEMBER 1, 2000
11
CCdos, Art: aond Soccer:
New Before & After School Care Program
Supervisor Gets a Kick Out of Life
By Chris Mercier
The new modular building isn't the only boon
bestowed upon Before & After School Care in re
cent times. For many, an earlier one arrived in
late August in the form of one Matt Bucknell, the
Tribe's new Before & After School Supervisor.
Bucknell was also on hand for the new building's
dedication on Wednesday, October 18. One would
not think he is new. Bucknell appears well placed
in this job, displaying a knack for communicating
with the children that seems natural. Most of the
children appear to readily love him, and listen at
tentively whenever he talks.
I Working with children has been a lifelong dream
for Bucknell, although his path here was an odd
one. He studied radiology at Oregon Institute of
Technology in Klamath Falls for two years, plan
jning on eventually becoming a radiologist who spe
cialized in working with children. That particular
dream never materialized for him, as working in a
hospital was an unpleasant revelation.
"People would come in bloody and with broken
limbs," he says. "It didn't take me long to realize
that this wasn't a good fit for me."
He later moved to Sheridan and found work at
Taylor Lumber Company. On the side he attended
Chemeketa Community College, and is currently
working on his Bachelor's degree in Art. He is mar
ried, and his wife Danis Bazzy-Bucknell works as
the Preschool Site Supervisor at Grand Ronde Head
Start. Children, along with art and one other thing,
form a trio of great passions in his life.
The other thing, by the way, is soccer.
But to say soccer is only a hobby would be a vast
understatement. He has played it since childhood.
And for him, soccer is not so much a sport, but a
way of life.
"I absolutely love it. You see, soccer is a sport
for everybody," he claims. "It's all about skill and
attitude. Size doesn't matter. Gender doesn't mat
ter. All it takes is discipline. . .and skill."
Bucknell is on a mission to increase the popular
ity of soccer in Grand Ronde. For years, he has
coached grade school children in the area, hoping
to instill in them mastery of the world's most popu
lar, and perhaps toughest, sport. He hopes to es
tablish a soccer camp during the summers for
youth that are interested.
"Soccer provides a mindset that not very many
LI I
Matt Bucknell
other sports do," he says. "It requires a lot of disci
pline, but more importantly a pure "team" ap
proach. Kids learn to function smartly as a group."
He adds, with a smile, "I've noticed that most of
the kids I've coached are pretty good in school."
Bucknell sees a bright future in his new job.
Children, art and soccer. What more could a guy
ask for?
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Children Sing in Chinook at New Building Dedication
Story and photos by Chris Mercier
There used to be nothing there.
Now, a whole new world has opened up for some
Grand Ronde youngsters. A group of parents and
children gathered on Wednesday, October 18 at
the dedication of the Tribe's Before & After School
Care program's new modular building located
behind Grand Ronde Elementary School.
Sleek, cozy, yet spacey the new building cre
ates all sorts of opportunities for the program that
began in 1994. Before & After was originally
located in the school's locker room. Although
adequate at first, the conditions became rather
cramped as more parents brought their kids in.
The new building boasts two large rooms, a
kitchen, a handful of play areas, and most im
portantly space plenty of room for energetic
children to do their thing. And boy have they
done their thing too numerous hand paint
ings, sketches and cut-out paper artwork adorn
the walls. Some tables are piled high with Legos.
But nobody seems to care if things get a little
messy. Everybody used to be a kid.
"I think this is just great," said Tribal Educa
tion Director Marion Mercier. "We have come a
long way since that locker room. This new build
ing rocks!"
"I'm proud of this building," said Tribal Vice
Chairman Ed Larsen. "This is nice and spa
cious... a much better learning environment. I
can't think of too many things more important
than education and now we'll have plenty of
opportunity to open things up."
The dedication featured a drumming circle, and
the children impressed all who showed up by
counting to 10 in Chinook and then following
that up with an entire song in jargon.
Loans Made Easy
Small Business
Mortgage
Majestic Mortgage, a Portland area firm special
izing in creative lending, has positioned itself as a
resource for Indian Housing Authorities. Liz
Hamilton (ChoctawCherokee) works with first-time
homebuyers, plus debt consolidation and refinance
clients, utilizing the first-time homebuyer assistance
programs offered to Tribal members under HUD's
Indian Housing Block Grant program.
While many lenders struggle with how to struc
ture grant money towards down payments, Ma
jestic Mortgage has adapted program guidelines
to fund quickly and efficiently. Despite credit chal
lenges such as bankruptcy, Majestic can refinance
the existing loan and pull cash out for a number
of uses, such as debt consolidation, home improve
ments, vacation or working capital for a business.
For self-employed, Majestic has non-income veri
fying home loans and Small Business Adminis
tration financing available.
Most pre-qualifications are done in 24 hours and
there is no charge for the initial call. Majestic Mort
gage is an equal opportunity lender and can origi
nate home loans in any state where licensing laws
allow. Contact Liz at 1-800-579-8222, ext. 552 or
page her at 503-955-0772.
Daytime GED Classes
held in Grand Ronde
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Adult
Education program will begin a new daytime
Adult Basic and GED class beginning on Novem
ber 7. This fall, six (6) weeks of classes will be
offered to all interested Tribal members.
Class schedule is November 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 28
and 30. No class on November 23 for Thanksgiv
ing. Classes resume on December 5, 7, 12 and 14.
Class is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact Dorna Riding In at
503-879-2282 for location information.
The program is working towards offering a com
munity GED class in coordination with Chemeketa
Community College.