Polk County Education
14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 11, 2016
SCHOOL NOTES
Dallas SD seeks feedback on CTE
DALLAS — Dallas School District is working on infor-
mation to create a 5-year plan for CTE (career technical
information) and stem (science, technology, engineering
and math) programming.
Community members and parents are encouraged to
provide feedback via a survey.
To find the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com
/r/RYBJKPN.
For more information: http://www.dallas.k12.or.us/ or
call 503-623-5594.
LaCreole to host ‘Exhibition Night’
DALLAS — LaCreole Middle School will hold its stem-
themed (science, technology, engineering and math) “Ex-
hibition Night” from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the school,
701 SE LaCreole Drive.
The event will feature class projects in a variety of sub-
jects, including a 3-D printer demonstration, a quad
copter, 3-D molecule cartoons, and the student garden.
For more information: 503-623-6662.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Deptula honored at Mary Baldwin
JOLENE GUzMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Dylan Hendrickson and Gage Scheet work on calculations during a roller coaster physics lab on May 4.
Students learn twists, turns
After-school program gives kids a chance to design, study roller coasters
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Yes, the
roller coaster physics class
in Falls City really is as fun as
it sounds.
But the students in the
popular Falls City Faces
(Family Academics Commu-
nity and Enrichment for
Success) after-school pro-
gram have to work before
they can play.
The two-day per week
class is filled with hands-on
labs in which students build
“roller coasters” to test cal-
culations and designs. At the
end of the class, they are re-
warded with a trip to an
amusement park to “test”
what they have been work-
ing on all spring.
To stay in the class, stu-
dents have to pass all their
other classes, turn in all their
work for roller coaster
physics on time, and attend
each hour-long lab.
JOLENE GUzMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Seth Hammond, right, Draven Pelkey and Chris Doyle
measure the drop on their roller coaster on May 4.
“We kind of up the re-
sponsibility of these stu-
dents,” teacher Micke Kidd
said.
Those who make it to the
end will be going on a trip to
Silverwood Theme Park in
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in
June. Once at the theme
park, students will have one
more lab to complete: study-
ing and doing calculations
on the rides at the park.
Finally they are set loose
to ride in the afternoon.
This year, Kidd is trying a
different method of teaching
the class.
Four students have en-
rolled in all five of the years
the class has been offered:
Ni c k Ke m p f e r, R o b e r t
Kempfer, Nathan Kempfer
and Kyle Smith. Kidd de-
cided they were familiar
enough with the material
that they could lead the
class. Kidd even allowed
them to pick the labs and
make lesson plans for each
session, with his approval.
“The things that they are
teaching I think are fairly
easy for them. Now they
have to stand in front of a
group of people and try to
teach them,” Kidd said, grin-
ning.
So far the system is work-
ing well. On May 4, the lab
was designed to have them
calculate the potential ener-
gy of their roller coaster —
really a length of flexible
tubing and a marble as the
“car” — as opposed to the
kinetic energy.
See PHYSICS, Page 10A
STAUNTON, Va. — Monmouth resident Wendy Deptula re-
ceived three awards during a ceremony honoring student aca-
demic achievement at Mary Baldwin College.
Deptula was given the Scholar Athlete Award, presented to a
member of sports teams who achieve high academic standing;
the Mary Jane Donnally Award, given to the athlete with the
highest cumulative GPA after three semesters of work; and
Team GPA Award for cross-country, awarded to the team mem-
ber with the highest cumulative GPA.
Polk County residents honored
POLK COUNTY — The following Polk County residents were
inducted into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Monmouth — Moshaal Alharbi, Jonathan Jones, Bryan Kel-
ley, Danielle Payne and Cameron Stanavige.
Dallas — Mariah McKechnie, Julie Postma and Parker Smith.
Independence — Melinda Shimizu.
All were initiated at Western Oregon University. Member-
ship is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a
chapter. The top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of jun-
iors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for member-
ship. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of
candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty,
professional staff and alumni who have received scholarly dis-
tinction. Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 at the University of
Maine.
Lucas Costa named to math society
FRONT ROYAL, Va. — Lucas Costa, of Monmouth, a junior at
Randolph-Macon Academy, was inducted into the National
Math Honor Society on March 24. Lucas is the son of Cinthia
Costa Jones, of Monmouth, and Alexandre D T Costa, of Curiti-
ba, Brazil.
Coons named to Elmira dean’s list
ELMIRA, NY — Gwendolynn Coons, of Dallas, has been
named to the Elmira College dean’s list for term II, winter 2016.
Students who earn a 3.6 or greater grade-point average on a
4.0 scale for the academic term are recognized on the Elmira
College dean’s list for academic excellence.