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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2015)
18A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 4, 2015 Polk County Schools/Education WOU students develop ideas to market area Students in Lau- rie Frost’s fourth-grade class at Inde- pendence Ele- mentary School explore a shark discovery table on Jan. 26, cour- tesy of the Ore- gon Coast Aquarium’s edu- cational out- reach. Kids learned about the characteris- tics of sharks, in- cluding their teeth and skin, and what makes them a unique ocean species. By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Students lured in by sharks Youths learn facts about one of ocean’s most intriguing residents By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — You are more likely to be injured by a toilet seat than get bitten by a shark. When a room full of young stu- dents at Independence Elementary School heard this news from Wendy Spaulding, education coor- dinator at the Oregon Coast Aquar- ium, giggles erupted. At 1-in-11.5 million, the odds are pretty low to get bitten by a shark, Spaulding said. It was just one tidbit of informa- tion students learned about sharks during a sort of reverse field trip, a visit from the aquarium to the school, on Jan. 26. Spaulding clarified myths about sharks, explained how different shark’s senses were compared to humans and tested students’ knowledge about the ocean fish. “These animals live out in the ocean, and have special things to live out there,” she said. “Sharks have adaptations to survive.” Sharks can smell one drop of blood in a million drops of water, Spaulding said. “Can you imagine smelling under water?” she asked the kids. “Water would go up our nose!” EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Jasmine Richert gets up close to a jar containing shark eyes after learning more about the fish. kids responded. Spaulding said sharks have skeletons made of cartilage so they can bend around their environ- ment. Students really perked up when they heard about sharks’ teeth. “We have to floss and brush and go to the dentist, because we only get two sets of teeth,” Spaulding said. “If we don’t take care of them and lose them, we have to wear dentures.” But sharks are different. They have one row of teeth sticking out, ready for action, and endless rows of additional teeth just waiting to be used. “Sharks have a never-ending supply of teeth,” Spaulding said. “There’s no dentist for sharks.” Many of the students were able to identify various sharks, from the small cookie cutter shark to the giant Megalodon, a long-extinct species of shark thought to be the largest ever on the Earth. “A scientist has never seen a Megalodon in real life,” Spaulding said. “We’ve only ever seen his tooth.” Students took turns exploring dis- covery tables after the presentation, where they could get a close-up view of shark bones, eyes and teeth. Jasmine Richert, a fourth-grader, got down close to study a jar with shark eyes inside. “I thought it was awesome,” she said about the shark program. For more information about the Oregon Coast Aquarium, including education outreach: www.aquari- um.org. MONMOUTH — Students at Western Oregon University have designed new logos for the Mon- mouth-Independence-WOU area, including creating some catchy mottos. “Combined efforts, shared tri- umphs,” was one student’s idea of what the three communities could use to market themselves as one unit. “Heart of the Willamette Valley,” was another. About 20 different students in Jen Bracy’s graphic design class have created various logos for the cities independently and combined. Monmouth City Manager Scott McClure said the joint branding is particularly interesting. “That would be a fresh look at something,” he said, noting that the only other way Monmouth, In- dependence and WOU have in the way of joint branding is through the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce. Though neither city, nor the university, is actively seeking to re- brand itself, the project helps stu- dents get to know the community better, Bracy said. It also helps students see how design can positively impact their community, she said. “It sends the message to folks liv- ing and working in these commu- nities that WOU wants to be more involved and inclusive,” Bracy said. When the communities sur- rounding WOU benefit and grow, it helps the university attract more students, Bracy said. “This is largely a hypothetical campaign at this time,” Bracy said. “However, leaders in Monmouth and Independence are very inter- ested in what takes shape and will be visiting our classes at the end of the term to attend a final pres- entation of the works by each stu- dent.” Students drew on their sur- roundings, taking photos of land- marks in the three communities. Color choices were based on the red brick of historic buildings or the greens and browns of trees. Mountains, valleys, hops and sunsets inspired students’ de- signs, also, in addition to the atti- tude of the people who live in the communities: warmth, friendli- ness and family values. The logo project is an example of “place branding,” Bracy ex- plained. “It refers to all the activities that are undergone with the purpose of turning a city from a location into a destination,” she said. Independence City Manager David Clyne said he could see value in a tool to market the three communities. By attracting busi- ness and tourism to one part of the area, it helps the others. EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Kimberly Apilado critiques the logo she designed for Monmouth and Independence during her graphic arts class on Thursday. Happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t let her be the only one in the office that Friday before Valen- tine’s Day without flowers...place your order today! • Candy & Mylar Balloon $9.99 • Valentine Candy 99¢ to $24.99 • Dozen Roses arranged in Vase $74.95 • Plush Animals • Balloons • Gifts • Cards always 75¢ & $1.00 • Wrapped Mixed Bouquets $12.99 & $18.99 SHOP LOCAL and show your for your community We Deliver to Monmouth, Independence, Dallas & Salem Make Her Heart Skip A Beat See Your Romance Advisors Sandy’s Fine Jewelry 1343 Monmouth St., Independence • 503-838-1544 Inside Central Plaza • Hours: Mon ‐ Fri 10‐5 Sat 10‐4 Fri. Feb. 13th & Sat. 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