16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 20, 2015
Polk County Education
SCHOOL NOTES
Martin, Ilg to retire from ACES
MONMOUTH — Sue Martin and Lori Ilg will celebrate retire-
ment from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday at the Ash Creek Elemen-
tary School library.
Celebrate their lifelong commitment to the teaching profes-
sion by sharing stories, laughter and companionship. Refresh-
ments will be served.
For more information: ACES, 503-606-9016.
KVCS students to raise money
KINGS VALLEY — Kings Valley Charter School’s high school
foreign language class is partnering with Zaycon Fresh to raise
money for student trips to Italy and France in 2016.
Zaycon Fresh offers deliveries or pickup of fresh meats, in-
cluding chicken, lean ground beef, hickory smoked bacon, pork
sausage, frozen beef patties, breaded chicken strip fritters,
frozen chicken drum sticks and more.
To sign up go to www.zayconfresh.com, put KVCS in the re-
ferral box and foreign language program will receive $10 for
new customers and $1 on future orders.
For more information: tsprague@kvschool.org.
Willis earns Rotary scholarship
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
From left Max Pittman, Savana Petty, and Ron Marneky make their way across the rock wall at Oakdale Heights.
FINDING THEIR GRIP
Students at Oakdale climb their way to fitness fun on new wall
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Max Pittman
was determined to get to the
end of the rock wall.
A first-grader at Dallas’
Oakdale Heights Elementary
School, he carefully picked
out his route on the wall —
with some help from Oak-
dale Heights Principal Caleb
Harris.
“Move your right hand
here,” Harris said pointing to
a grip right above Max’s
head. “There you go. Nice
adjustment.”
In a few seconds, Max
found his way to the end of
wall and jumped down tri-
umphantly.
Mission accomplished.
When asked if it was diffi-
cult Max said “no,” but
added he has fun using the
wall during class.
Max’s favorite part? “Just
climbing,” naturally.
The rock wall, installed
earlier this spring, is the
newest addition to the
school’s physical education
classes.
It’s proving popular with
the students, even rivaling
the perennial favorite climb-
ing rope among the fitness
stations in the gym, Harris
said.
It’s not a vertical challenge
due to safety concerns — no
harnesses are required —
but it still tests students’ co-
ordination and strength as
they “climb” from side to
side.
The wall has yellow, green
and blue colored grips,
which can add to the diffi-
culty depending on the task,
and two corners to navigate.
Physical Education
teacher Jon Petersen can
add temporary obstacles —
such as hula-hoops to crawl
through — or challenge stu-
dents to use only certain col-
ored grips to find their way
across to make the activity
even more interesting.
Harris said he began
working on building the rock
wall after visiting Independ-
ence Elementary School in
Independence for his daugh-
ter’s gymnastics class.
The school already had a
wall, and he thought it
might make for a fun fitness
station to add something
similar to Oakdale’s gym.
He applied for a “gym en-
hancement” grant from
Lowe’s to pay for the instal-
lation.
With donated engineering
by Dallas resident Greg
Locke and painting by local
artist Kev Kohler, the rock
wall was completed by the
time students returned from
spring break in March.
Petersen and Harris know
first-hand the types of ob-
stacles the kids are facing on
the wall; they tested it them-
selves before opening it to
students to make sure the
degree of difficulty was ap-
propriate for the age group.
Harris said it’s not as easy as
it may look.
“There was some quality
testing,” Harris said, smiling.
Harris and Petersen al-
ready have phase II of the
rock wall in mind. They
would like to expand the
wall at least 20 feet to give
more students a chance to
climb across.
Now, only four students
can use the wall at one time.
“We would like to be able
to have eight on it at once,”
Harris said. “That is the
goal.”
INDEPENDENCE — Michael Willis, a graduating senior at Cen-
tral High School from Independence, has been named the win-
ner of the 2015 Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club's schol-
arship. Willis is one of 17 students who applied for the $1,000
award.
Willis has been a member of the Academic All-Stars and the
Competitive Math Team at Central as well as a leader in the Unit-
ed Nations and the Rotary Interact clubs.
He has assisted with the YMCA Nite Court and the Hop & Her-
itage Festival, as well as working on the Ford Family Pathways
Committee. Willis also recently after graduated from Polk Coun-
ty’s Search and Rescue Academy.
Willis plans to major in English at Portland State University.
The Rotary Scholarship, which has been offered for many
years by the local Rotary Club, is awarded annually to a student
who has excelled academically, demonstrated leadership
among peers, and has provided volunteer service in the com-
munity.
IES kids raise money for upgrades
INDEPENDENCE — Students in Brian Ross’ fourth-grade class
at Independence Elementary School are raising money to buy
Boogie Boards for the school.
The students, Teo, Jake, Peyton and Maritza, said their goal is
to raise $700 to buy 35 boards, which will replace the personal
white boards used in class now.
Boogie Boards are not white boards, the students said, but
rather technological devices that help them take notes and do
math problems.
To donate or for more information: IES front office, 503-838-
0030.
Lindley to graduate from Willamette
SALEM — Quinn Lindley a 2011 Central High School gradu-
ate will graduate from Willamette University with a Bachelor of
Arts majoring in politics. Quinn was a member of the cross-
country and track team all four years at Willamette.
He also interned for the Drug Enforcement Administration
and the Oregon Legislature for Senator Chuck Thompson.
Quinn plans to seek employment with the Federal government
after graduation.
See more School Notes and Academic Honors
on Page 14A