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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2015)
16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 25, 2015 Polk County Schools/Education SCHOOL NOTES ‘University night’ set at Dallas High DALLAS — The Oregon Public University Spring Tour will make a stop at Dallas High School on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Representatives of all eight public universities in Oregon — Oregon State, Oregon, Portland State, Eastern Oregon, Western Oregon, Southern Oregon, OSU-Cascades and Oregon Institute of Technology — will be on hand. This is an opportunity for any college-bound student to hear about programs and schools in Oregon. “University night” is open to students in all grades and par- ents. Students will hear a general presentation from all the uni- versities in Bollman Auditorium, and then be able to attend small breakout sessions with at least two schools of their choice. There will be information to pick up and time for questions. For more information: Dobie Long, Dallas High School coun- seling office, 503-831-1975. Melanie Meador uses a talking globe game made by Leap Frog to test her world geog- raphy knowledge. The globe is a fun way for youths to get started in geography, Meador said. She and Timothy Fairchild will represent Polk County school dis- tricts — Central and Perrydale, respec- tively — at the state National Geographic Bee at Western Ore- gon University on Fri- day. The bee is for youths in grades 4-8. Education forum planned Tuesday EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Ultimate world trivia test Two local students qualify for state geography bee competition By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — What is the city on the east coast of China that is the most densely populated where people mainly ride bikes? The answer: Shanghai. “That was the eighth ques- tion tie- b re a k e r,” said Timo- t h y Fa i r- child, an eighth- grader at Perr ydale Elementary School. “I Fairchild got it right, so I won the school geogra- phy bee.” Fairchild and Melanie Meador, a Talmadge Middle School seventh-grader, will represent Polk County at Fri- day’s State National Geo- graphic Bee, which takes place at Western Oregon University. Learn More • For more information or to test your geographic knowledge: www.national- geographic.com/geobee. Meador doesn’t remember her winning question, just one that she got wrong about a lion reserve in Kenya. “The other person got all (three) of them wrong,” Meador said. Not everyone who wins the school geographic bee gets a ticket to the state com- p e t i t i o n . Me a d o r a n d Fairchild both had to score well on another test, one that included multiple choice, short answer and essay questions. “In the test to get to state, I was nervous because there were a lot of science ques- tions I didn’t expect on a ge- ography test,” Fairchild said. Specifically, one essay question asked students to name an endangered ani- mal, what it eats, where it lives and what efforts are being made to save it. “It doesn’t seem right for geography,” Fairchild said. The second essay ques- tion asked students to wear the hat of a city planner. “They told you that you had just bought a basketball team, and you had to build an arena in that city,” Meador explained. They were given maps of four dif- ferent cities with markers for train stations, hotels and parking lots. “You had to choose one of the four spots and then explain why you chose it.” For both students, maps and geography is a family af- fair. Fairchild’s father spent time studying atlases for fun, he said. “On a rainy day or whatev- er, he would sit down and pull out an atlas and start looking at it,” Fairchild said. “In class, I’ll flip to the back of the history book and study the maps. I’ve always been interested in the world and seeing where things are.” Meador picked up interest in the subject from her brother, Brett, and father, Walt, who always had a map on his lap on road trips across the Northwest, Mid- west and to the South. Learning about exotic new places — and how to pronounce them and spell them properly — is some- thing Meador enjoys. Through it all, she has found a few places she’d like to visit. “Someday I’d like to go to Italy,” she said. “I’d like to see the Kentucky Derby some- day.” Fairchild’s dream destina- tions center around history and genealogy. See TEST, Page 14A WEST SALEM — Chemeketa Community College President Julie Huckestein and State Rep. Paul Evans of Monmouth will host an education forum Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Chemeketa Eola Viticulture Center, 215 Doaks Ferry Road NW. The forum is specifically designed for both Evans and Huck- estein to have an opportunity to hear any concerns or needs of parents, teachers or those organizations who work with chil- dren in the community. For more information: 503-986-1420. Tickets for KVCS fundraiser on sale KINGS VALLEY — Tickets are now on sale for Kings Valley Char- ter School’s annual fundraiser, this year titled the Great Outdoors Dinner and Auction, scheduled May 2 at the Corvallis Elks Lodge. Tickets cost $16.50 per person and can be purchased through Glenda Bush or Jennie Wilder at the Kings Valley Char- ter School main office, 38840 Kings Valley Highway, located be- tween Dallas and Philomath. For more information: 541-929-2134. LaCreole educator receives honor DALLAS — Blake Shinn, sixth-grade math teacher at LaCreole Middle School, was named Dallas School District’s Distinguished Educator for March. Kimberly Noack, a parent of one of Shinn’s students and colleague at LaCreole, nomi- nated him for the honor, which was present- ed on March 13. “He believes that students and their learn- ing should always come first,” Noack said. Shinn “He is dedicated to current and former stu- dents, and willing to help all in gaining math skills.” Shinn’s students noted: “He doesn’t flip out if we don’t get the answers right” and “He helps us understand problems.” The Distinguished Educator Program recognizes “excellence in teaching and learning” in Dallas School District schools. ACADEMIC HONORS Local pair earns COCC recognition BEND — Two Polk County residents, Kelsey Ford of Rickreall and Cody Manzi of Monmouth, have qualified for inclusion on the 2014 fall term dean’s list at Central Oregon Community College in Bend. The COCC dean’s list is based on enrollment in 12 or more credit hours and a grade-point average of 3.60 or higher. Ford is a 2014 graduate of Perrydale High School, while Manzi is a 2013 graduate of Santiam Christian High School in Adair Village.