Polk County News
14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 27, 2016
SCHOOL NOTES
Scholarship applications accepted
INDEPENDENCE — Applications for the Albert L. & Ivy B.
Thomas Scholarship are available to this year’s graduating sen-
iors from Central High School. All class of 2016 applicants will
receive an award to be used during the 2016-17 school year.
Applications may be picked up from Ms. Heins-Mueller in the
vice principal’s oice through Friday and must be turned in by
Feb. 5. Friday is the last day to request teacher recommenda-
tions for this scholarship.
For more information: Ms. Heins-Mueller, 503-606-2225 or
sheins-mueller@central.k12.or.us.
Volunteers needed for spring break
POLK COUNTY — The Marion-Polk Food Share is looking for
volunteers to help serve meals and help with activities for stu-
dents during spring break, March 21-25. All volunteers must be
able to pass a background check.
To sign up, call Marion-Polk Food Share, 503-581-3855 or
email MCurry@marionpolkfoodshare.org.
Central students named to honor roll
INDEPENDENCE — The following Central High School seniors
were inducted into the National Honor Society on Jan. 19:
Gabriela Acevedo, Hannah Boyack, Forrest Deters, Reba Hof-
man, Samantha Sackett, Santiago Venegas-Trujillo, and Trevore
Whittemore.
MVCA students donate warm coats
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Kings Valley Charter School students take a customer’s order at Kings Crossing on Saturday afternoon.
KINGS CROSSING
Students, artists work together to provide comfortable, ‘chill’ atmosphere
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
KING VALLEY — Kings
Crossing, a student-run cof-
fee shop open on Saturdays
in Kings Valley, is a “living
classroom.”
Students serve coffee
brewed on site and pastries
made in the Kings Valley
Charter School (KVCS)
kitchen. Customers can sip
their coffee while browsing
the work of local artists and
crafters who rent booths
during shop hours.
Kings Valley Community
Center, just across the street
from the school, is home to
the student business ven-
ture, a fitting use for the
charming old building.
“This is the exact type of
thing we had in mind,” said
David Crowe, of Kings Valley
Community Trust, which
operates the center. “The
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
The handiwork of artists are featured during shop hours.
kids have stepped up and
made it happen. It’s all on
their shoulders.”
Walking into the center
Saturday morning, cus-
tomers were greeted with
the scent of brewed coffee
and the relaxing sound of
acoustic guitar music.
Natural light flows in
through tall and narrow
windows of the former
church, lighting the
makeshift stage where chil-
dren sit at the feet of the
musicians as they play and
sing.
“Seeing the little
munchkins running around
and having people just come
and hang out, it feels pretty
neat,” said senior Becca
Barnhart. “This is the first
time we’ve had people come
and sing, but that’s always
been the goal, just to have
people be comfortable —
chill and play and guitar.”
Crowe and KVCS teacher
Diana Barnhart formulated
the concept and pitched it to
students at the school.
The idea was to combine
the school and artist com-
munities in Kings Valley, and
making use of the center.
Diana Barnhart said mostly
juniors and seniors decided
to participate in the proj-
ect — which now is an elec-
tive class.
See CROSSING, Page 13A
POLK COUNTY — Students from Mid-Valley Christian Acade-
my collected, washed and delivered 70 coats throughout Polk
County. Roth’s in Independence and Wells Fargo Bank in Dallas
served as drop-of locations. The coats will be donated to Mid-
Willamette Valley Community Action Agency.
Students are also collecting canned food and are taking part
in a coin drive as part of their annual “Missions Week.”
All donations will be delivered to Marion-Polk Food Share to
provide lunch for students during spring break.
Missions Week concludes Wednesday (today) when National
School Choice Week begins with a performance at the school
with refreshments and a visit to selected businesses and
churches.
For more information: MCVA, 503-838-2818.
Free aviation workshop Feb. 20-21
INDEPENDENCE — The International Experimental Aircraft
Association (Salem Chapter) will ofer a free workshop on sport
aviation and aerospace on Feb. 20 and 21. The event will take
place at the Independence Air Park and is open to students
ages 14 to 18.
Participants will be exposed to the physics of light, weather,
map reading/GPS, simulators, hands-on inspection of aircraft,
aircraft construction/aerospace materials, careers in aviation
and more.
Visit www.polkio.com for a link to register or for more infor-
mation.
Group to look at locker room safety
DALLAS — A superintendent’s committee of Dallas School
District staf, students and community members will be formed
to look into what more can be done to address concerns about
locker room safety and privacy. The idea is a response to the on-
going discussion of the district’s policy allowing a transgender
student to use the boys’ locker room at Dallas High School.
Dallas School Board Chairwoman Lu Ann Meyer suggested
the idea Monday at the board’s meeting. She said the group
could make a recommendation of what further changes could
be made to make kids feel comfortable.