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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2015)
16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 6, 2015 Polk County Education Perrydale Parents Clubs auction set for May 16 Annual event is main fundraiser for the organization that assists school with all ‘the extras’ By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer PERRYDALE — Perrydale Parents Club is inviting everyone to experience a “Taste of Italy” at its annual dinner and auction May 16. The fundraiser will help the organization assist Per- rydale School with “the ex- tras,” which has included educational assemblies, field trips, outdoor school, playground equipment, iPads, and a remodeled sci- ence lab to name just a few. “A lot of it is that we try to look at what the holes are that we can help fill,” said PPC President Helle Rud- denklau, noting last year’s auction pulled in about $23,000. Ruddenklau said last year’s project, installing a greenhouse at the school, has just broken ground. “This year, (auction pro- ceeds) will go to new proj- ects at the school,” she said. “A Taste of Italy,” will be held at the Polk County Fair- grounds & Event Center and will feature a selection of dif- ferent pastas, meats, and sauces, in addition to bread sticks and salad. “It’s a build-your-own pasta bar with lots of choic- es,” Ruddenklau said, noting the dinner is catered by Sun- rise at Your Fair Catering and Concessions. “I know that your food will be good.” For those who arrive early, appetizers will be served start- ing at 4 p.m. Eola Hills Wine Cellars wines and beer from McMinnville’s Golden Valley Brewery will be available. The silent auction begins at 4 p.m. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the live auction will begin around 6:30 p.m. Ruddenklau said the auc- tion will feature a wide vari- ety of items, including a chain saw, a Marquis Spa, stays at the coast, and a “princess party” package. Each class has put together a “basket” to sell at the auc- tion — though the packages have gotten so big in recent years some wouldn’t fit in a A Taste of Italy What: Perrydale Parents Club annu- al dinner and auction. Where: Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center, 520 S. Pacific Highway (99W), Rickreall. When: May 16, doors open at 4 p.m. Dinner is served at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction. Admission: $22 person or $160 per table of eight. Tick- ets sale deadline is Tuesday. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $30. To buy tickets online: www.perrydaleparentsclub.com. Tickets also are available at the school office, 7445 Perrydale Road, Amity. basket. Proceeds from those go to either the classroom teacher at the elementary level or to the class to pay for senior trips and other events. “They have some really nice things in those class baskets,” Ruddenklau said. If you want to have a chance at being the highest bidder you better act fast. The deadline to purchase tickets at $22 per person is Tuesday. A limited amount of tickets will be available at the door at $30 each. Ruddenklau said so far ticket sales have been strong, but she’s hoping for a packed house at the fair- grounds. “It’s really turned into a nice event for us,” she said. “It does allow us to tackle some pretty big projects.” Free child care will be available for the first 30 chil- dren signed up. For more information: w w w. p e r r y d a l e p a r e n t s club.com. Gentle professor to restart book club SCHOOL NOTES By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Marie LeJeune, associate professor of teacher education, finds it crucial to keep her pulse on what is going on in public K- 12 education. “It’s important in my work to continually be connected to what teachers are doing in K-12 schools,” she said. A new endowment for ed- ucation professors at West- ern Oregon University, the T.H. Gentle Endowment, will allow her to spend more time doing just that. LeJeune is the first to re- ceive the endowment. “It will give me some time and money to work on our research, especially con- nected to the work at public schools,” LeJeune said. “It will allow me to continue and grow my research.” A lot of her research in- volves working with her for- mer students as they teach at Central School District schools. The endowment, made possible through donations from Western’s College of Photo contributed by MARIE LEJEUNE Marie LeJeune, associate professor of teacher educa- tion at Western Oregon University, has been named the first T.H. Gentle Endowed professor. Education supporters, in- cluding the Gentle family, includes a small amount of money and course release – which means LeJeune may teach one less course than is in her contract during a term next year. “Especially for me, the time is particularly valuable,” LeJeune said, “especially time during the day when teach- ers and kids are in school. It will allow me to be out in the classrooms more with teach- ers and kids, which is really important to me.” Her specialty as a profes- sor is children’s and young adult literature, and she takes that knowledge into classrooms throughout Cen- tral schools. As part of the Orbis Pictus Award committee — the largest award for children’s nonfiction — LeJeune does a lot of work with authors and reviewing books. “I get to share a lot of the books that come in from publishers and let kids see those books,” LeJeune said. Beyond that, she hopes to resurrect a book club for girls in fourth and fifth grade. It’s a program she started years ago with Inde- pendence Elementary School teacher MaryAnne Hill. “It was probably one of the best experiences I had,” LeJeune said. “I did my dis- sertation on girls’ book groups.” The money she received from the endowment is enough to get started so that each girl in the book club may have a book to take home with her. “That’s really exciting, es- pecially since there are a lot of families in the communi- ty without libraries,” LeJe- une said. To help with the after- school book club: email LeJeune at lejeunem @wou.edu. Thomas Gentle, for whom the endowment is named, came to Western’s campus more than 100 years ago to revitalize the teacher prepa- ration program, and built programs and a faulty com- mitted to excellence in this area. Safeway program sends about $30,000 to Dallas schools DALLAS — Dallas schools and programs received nearly $30,000 in 2014 thanks to contributions to Safeway’s eScrip program. The Safeway program contributions, with the help of volun- teer coordinators at each school, fund new computers, school supplies, art programs, curriculum enhancements, textbooks, music programs, sports programs, gymnasiums and more. A percentage of Safeway Club Card purchases are donated to the schools or programs of a participant’s choice. Schools received the following amounts: Lyle Elementary School, $6,868.37; LaCreole Middle School, $5,151.92; Dallas High School, $4896.65; Oakdale Heights Elementary School, $3693.34; Whitworth Elementary School, $3620.87; Morrison Campus Alternative School, $562.87. Donations also were given to the following programs: textbooks, $2753.63; athletics, $1506.25; and fine arts, $497.21. To p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e e S c r i p p r o g r a m , g o t o www.escrip.com/safewaystores. Project ACHIEVE to hold open house DALLAS — Project ACHIEVE is celebrating its 19th year with an open house Friday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., at 1085 Main St., Dallas. This is an opportunity to learn about the activities and class- es at Project ACHIEVE, Dallas High School’s post high program for students with special needs. The program provides life and vocational skills services to students transitioning from school. For more information: Betsy Seth, 503-831-0604; email to betsy.seth@dsd2.org. 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