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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2016)
Polk County Education 14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 30, 2016 MES digs out structure By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Stu- dents, Scouts, parents and teachers showed up to Monmouth Elementar y School on Friday morning, dodging the rain to dig out one of three play struc- tures. “I’m going to be sore to- morrow!” MES Principal Kim Seidel said as she hauled another load of wet bark and dirt from the play- ground. The outdoor structures at MES have been flooded for most of the school year, Sei- del said. “Teachers have said how much of a struggle it’s been to come outside and play,” she said. “I had parents ask about it.” After talking with people in the district office and on the parent-teacher group, Seidel scheduled a work day on Friday to get the playground in playing order. Kyleah Medel and Kaily Jackson, both MES third- graders, shoveled wet bark from around the slide into a waiting wheelbarrow. “I’m here because I’m wanting to help the school get the old bark chips out and put the new ones in,” Kyleah said. The playground was so bad, caution tape warned people not to venture onto the structure, Kyleah said. “It was really muddy,” she noted. “It’s kind of like quicksand because if you step on it, it kind of sucks you in,” Kaily added. Two tractors were there to help. One of them, Kyleah’s dad was driving. “This is a lot of dirt,” she said. “So we’re going to have to work.” The second tractor was from someone in the com- munity, Seidel said. It ar- rived Thursday night and got a head start scooping out the muddy mess. Board member Steve Moser directed a group of Boy Scouts while he shov- eled. “What they have here is a drainage issue,” he said. “They thought it would drain into the field. The idea is that it needs to be raised up a little so the water can get out.” DSD sees uptick in attendance By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Kyleah Medel and Kaily Jackson, third-graders at Mon- mouth Elementary School, help dig out the wet bark and mud around the playground on Friday morning. People worked all morn- ing removing the old materi- al before putting down a layer of river rock. On top of that went some garden cloth, topped with fresh bark. Two more areas need at- tention, but Seidel said she will be happy that children will come back from Spring Break with at least one area to get some fresh air and ex- ercise. DALLAS — Attendance rates in Dallas School Dis- trict are up compared to the same time last year in all schools except for one. Dallas High School, LaCreole Middle School, Oakdale and Lyle elemen- tary schools all had had higher attendance percent- ages as of Monday than on the same date last year. Whitworth Elementary School fell just a bit, from 94.11 percent to 94.02 per- cent. All schools consistently exceed the state standard of 92 percent attendance rate, said Steve Martinelli, direc- tor of instructional services. Martinelli said atten- dance improvement at the elementary level is largely due to the implementation of “positive behavior sup- port systems,” which rein- forces good behavior. Full- day kindergarten, which began this school year, also has increased attendance rates at both schools, mov- ing from 93.76 percent to 94.02 percent at Oakdale and 92.35 percent to 94.21 percent at Lyle. At the middle school, adding back electives has helped. “Students are connecting to school and enjoying their course selections,” Mar- tinelli said. At Dallas High School, a mentoring program is help- ing keep students in class. “The mentor program has had an impact giving some of our at-risk students a pos- itive adult to connect with at school,” Martinelli said. Attendance by percentage March 2016 Dallas High School 95.41 LaCreole Middle School 94.16 Whitworth Elementary School 94.02 Oakdale Elementary School 94.45 Lyle Elementary School 94.75 March 2015 95.22 93.86 94.11 93.51 93.62 Help us welcome Rev. Fred W. Heard at his installation as Vicar of St. Thomas Episcopal Church Tuesday April 5th 7 PM EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Boy Scouts David Lutz and Sean Stephson help fix the drainage at one of the playgrounds at MES on Friday. Contact: Janice Wolcott 2484 SW Oakwood Dr., Dallas OR 97338 503-831-5593
